“It’s a day that I will remember, I wanted it, badly”: Victor Wembanyama savors his first success in the NBA

First victory in the NBA: “I’m proud of what we did tonight (Friday). We obviously see that we can improve, but a victory is a victory. I love winning so much, my favorite thing in life, so obviously I feel happy. Back in the locker room, “Pop” (his coach, Gregg Popovich, Editor’s note) stressed that it was my first success in the NBA, that made me proud of myself. It surprised me that I wanted to celebrate, it's just a victory, we have many in front of us, but it's a day I will remember. It’s a victory of desire. We saw that the “momentum” changed in the fourth quarter. Collectively, we have completely changed the situation. Individually, I wanted it, badly.”

What the Spurs lacked at the start of the match: “It’s simple, aggression. We all have days when things don't work out, great players know how to adapt to the opponent and find solutions at all costs, you have to have other weapons. Otherwise we lacked energy. They hit many shots, almost everything they attempted. Our energy was neither high enough nor consistent enough. The changes during the 4th quarter brought this freshness which kept us in the game.

Long moments on the bench: “I imagine that as he put me back on at the end of the match, afterwards he wanted to keep me fresh perhaps. It worked, I trust him. My match wasn't perfect either. So for me it doesn’t lack meaning.”

Decisive at the end of the game: “All my life I have preferred the end of the match, where I feel better. But it is also an area of ​​improvement, to be able to contribute to the team from the start. Let's say that we must pull the team up at all costs, I can't afford to show a bad face if I want to help this team win.

Popovich’s blower at the end of the match: “I forgot a system. It was a small mistake, it was completely legitimate for him to shout at me, I apologize.”

Comments collected at a press conference