Wembanyama eyes 'childhood dream' after Spurs stun Thunder
Key takeaways
- The win marked another dazzling milestone on Wembanyama's rise as the new face of the NBA, just three years after he was chosen by San Antonio with the No.1 pick in the 2023 draft.
- The 7ft 4in (2.24m) Frenchman was hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent when he landed in the NBA, with LeBron James famously saluting the towering youngster as more like an "alien" rather than a "unicorn."
- "Winning the Larry O'Brien (NBA championship trophy) is a childhood dream, and having a real shot at it, having a tangible chance at winning it -- it's a lifetime chance," Wembanyama told a post-game press conference.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Victor Wembanyama is within sight of realizing a lifelong dream after helping the San Antonio Spurs battle past the Oklahoma City Thunder to set up an NBA Finals showdown with the New York Knicks on Saturday.
Victor Wembanyama celebrates San Antonio's series victory over Oklahoma City, which has left the Frenchs superstar targeting his maiden NBA Finals crown © Joshua Gateley / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP Wembanyama's 22-point haul was the cornerstone of a superb display as San Antonio stunned the reigning NBA champions 111-103 on the road to clinch a 4-3 Western Conference Finals series triumph.
The win marked another dazzling milestone on Wembanyama's rise as the new face of the NBA, just three years after he was chosen by San Antonio with the No.1 pick in the 2023 draft.