By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
The day all the San Antonio Spurs fans were waiting for came, as Victor Wembanyama played his first minutes as an NBA player in the Summer League against the Charlotte Hornets, contributing to his team’s 76-68 victory against the Charlotte Hornets.
Playing against the No.2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Brandon Miller, who had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort, the French generational talent didn’t impress that much but still put up 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks, shooting 2/13 from the field in 27:27 minutes of playing time. On the other end of the floor, FC Barcelona’s own and 31st overall pick in the Draft James Nnaji didn’t manage to score but grabbed a total of 7 rebounds in Charlotte’s defeat.
After the encounter, Victor Wembanyama commented on his performance, showing disappointment. “Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight but it’s what I learn from for the next games. The important thing is to be ready for the season”, the former Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 player said in the post-game press conference after being captured by Kai Jones in a monster poster dunk.
Victor Wembanyama: “Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight but it’s what I learn from for the next games. The important thing is to be ready for the season.” pic.twitter.com/WBsUNwBqxD
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 8, 2023
Nico Mannion shone with the Bucks
After not playing one single minute in the 2023 LBA Finals between Olimpia Milan and Virtus Bologna, the 22-year-old Niccolò Mannion, who recently joined Baskonia to likely replace Darius Thompson, had an impressive Summer League debut with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Italian guard put up 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 7/14 from the field. The former Golden State Warriors player went up against Ismael Kamagate in the 92-85 win against Denver, and the French big man had a losing effort of 5 points and 6 rebounds. Elsewhere, the BBL Finals MVP and German champion with ratiopharm Ulm Yago Dos Santos had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3/6 from deep in the 83-74 win by the Chicago Bulls against Toronto.
Gran Canaria’s own Khalifa Diop had 2 points and 6 rebounds in the 101-97 victory for Cleveland against Brooklyn. Also, the Portuguese Neemias Queta produced a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds for the 80-76 victory by Sacramento, playing alongside Derthona’s Mike Daum, who had 2 points and 2 rebounds.
NICCOLÓ😳 pic.twitter.com/RwJT3D1pVH
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 7, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images