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Victor Wembanyama’s final French game ends in defeat as projected No. 1 overall pick’s Mets 92 are swept in championship series – with the NBA Draft just a week away
Projected No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama played his final game for his French team Metropolitans 92 after they lost Game 3 of the LNB Pro A’s championship series 92-85.
Wembanyama produced a strong performance as expected with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks although it was not enough to stop his team from being swept.
To accommodate escalating interest in seeing the 19-year-old French prodigy, Game 3 – and 4 if they had won – were switched from a 4,000-seat venue to Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, home of the French Open tennis championship which seats more than 14,000.
Fans sang ‘Merci, Wemby’ as the hugely popular Wembanyama waved and clapped at them.
‘I’m sorry for the fans who love to see a show,’ Wembanyama said following the game.
Highly touted NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama played his final game for Mets 92 in France
He said goodbye to Metropolitans 92 fans following Thursday’s defeat at Roland Garros, Paris
He is expected to be taken No. 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the upcoming NBA Draft
‘Of course I’m proud of what I’ve managed to do along with my coach (Vincent Collet), in bringing the team to the finals. But I’m not satisfied.’
Next week, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to make the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, where he’ll follow in the footsteps of France great Tony Parker and Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
With Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive among the crowd – likely with an eye on Wembanyama teammate Bilal Coulibaly ahead of the draft – the Mets opened up big leads but with 50 seconds left the score was tied at 85-85.
Jordan Loyd, a former NBA player with the Toronto Raptors, sank two 3-pointers to end Wembanyama’s hopes of signing off with a French crown.
Ranadive told beIN Sport that Wembanyama is ‘amazing’ but that ‘I’m also excited about Bilal. Young guy, lot of skills, so French basketball is in great shape.’
Wembanyama, who opened the scoring with a reverse alley-oop dunk, looked sad as he hugged his teammates while Monaco celebrated.
‘Wemby had a great game, but this team’s unbelievable,’ said Loyd, who finished with 22 points.
Everything had pointed to a special night for Wembanyama and then a Game 4 on Saturday. Wembanyama clenched his fist when his pass inside for Devante Jones made it 24-10, then drew roars when he used his giant frame to block a shot early in the second quarter.
The 7-foot-4 hooper recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in a loss to Monaco
Wembanyama reacts with teammate Lahaou Konate as they could not claim French crown
The ‘Wemby, Wemby’ chants became louder when he hit a 3-pointer to make it 47-37, louder still when he dished to Coulibaly for a dunk early in the third quarter.
It was not enough, though, and it was ‘Wemby’ who put Elie Okobo on the foul line to give Monaco its first lead, 82-81, with just over three minutes left.
Loyd – not Wembanyama – ended up with the MVP award and the winners’ medal on the court where Novak Djokovic made men’s Grand Slam history last Sunday with his 23rd men’s major title.
Wembanyama’s journey to greatness in his sport, however, might only just be starting.
