By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Back in December, Victor Wembanyama went viral by sitting down to play chess with fans in New York, during an NBA Christmas Games 2024 trip with the San Antonio Spurs. Following a scary setback that forced a premature ending to his 2024-25 journey with the Spurs, he bounced back in a similar viral display for joining a youngster for a game of H.O.R.S.E. in San Antonio.
Revealing a unique experience in matching up with Wemby in a neighborhood court, Miller Borushko shared his story with local television station KSAT.
“He walked up and asked my name. I said, ‘I’m Miller.’ And he was like, ‘I’m Victor,” said the youngster, “I tried to stay chill about it.”
The French prodigy then suggested a game of H.O.R.S.E, which was captured by a nearby surveillance camera.
“Wemby won,” Borushko recalled with excitement, “He won on a left-handed three-pointer.”
“He could have easily just dunked and won the game, but he didn’t do that,” the kid also talked about how he earned an H and an O against an NBA superstar, “He just wanted to have fun.”
Borushko also recalled Wembanyama walking with a young woman, without any initial intention to play basketball.
“That’s what I think because he didn’t have a ball with him, so I don’t think he was planning on playing,” he said of the Le Chesnay native wanting to give back to the community with such polite acts.
According to Borushko, soon after a crowd gathered at the playground, Wemby posed for pictures and left.
“I still don’t think I’ve actually completely comprehended how crazy it is,” he confessed, “I got really lucky.”
Beyond inspiring kids, Wembanyama is expected to be medically cleared for the Preseason 2025 with the Spurs. However, he is likely to miss an opportunity to play for the senior national team of France in the EuroBasket 2025.