Victor Wembanyama Reacts To Incredible OT Win Over Japan At The 2024 Olympics

Victor Wembanyama took charge of the French national team in a thrilling OT win over Japan at the Olympics.

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Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Victor Wembanyama dominated in OT of a thrilling Paris 2024 Olympics matchup between France and Japan. The underdog Japanese national team nearly pulled off an upset against France on their home court but managed to lose 90-94 after Wembanyama scored eight straight points in OT to lead France to the win. He reacted to his performance after the game.

“The realization, the dynamic of the game. They were playing like underdogs and we were waiting for them to punch a little bit too much. I wanted to make a point and punch first in overtime. And it worked.”

The head coach for the French national team, Vincent Collet, reacted to Wembanyama’s performance by heaping praise onto the 20-year-old center.

“For Victor, the main thing was to go inside, where he is sure to dominate every time. If he plays too much perimeter, he’s like any other player… Some nights you make the shots, and some nights you don’t make (them),” he added. “And when you are stressed, you have more chance not to make (them).”

“Even being a leader, he cannot win by himself,” said Collet. “He needs teammates to help him, and that’s what they did. Batum, especially tonight, but others too, I think we cannot be good if we don’t find this chemistry, for sure. Victor is our target on offense, but we need to find a way to involve everybody.”

This wasn’t a great performance for the French team, as they trailed for large chunks of the game and had multiple favorable referee decisions go their way. One of the biggest swing moments of the game was the ejection of Japan and Lakers’ star Rui Hachimura for an unsportsmanlike foul, a decision that fans have heavily criticized.

https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1818325862280007912

Another game-changing referee moment came when French shooter Matthew Strazel hit a late three while France was trailing by four, but the referee made a call for a four-point play which allowed France to push the game to OT. 

These decisions have left a sour taste in many fans’ mouths, but Wembanyama’s OT takeover cannot be questioned. Wemby ended the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.


Vincent Collet Compared Wembanyama To Michael Jordan

Victor Wembanyama has been called a once-in-a-lifetime prospect since he was discovered a few years ago. He lived up to the hype in every possible way after his incredible rookie season which saw him become the first rookie to be named to the All-Defensive First Team and be only the sixth player to win Rookie of the Year unanimously.

Collet gave perspective on how Wembanyama is perceived by the French public, saying that people who don’t follow basketball already think he’s Michael Jordan.

“People who know basketball, they understand he’s only 20 years old. But people who don’t know basketball, they think Victor is already Michael Jordan.”

Wembanyama has a long way to go before he can even think of comparing himself to Michael Jordan. He’s had a great start in the NBA though, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, over a historic rookie campaign.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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