Basketball legends and celebrities went out to watch San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama's NBA game in his home country, France.
In the NBA on ESPN's Instagram post, LA Sparks star Cameron Brink is among those watching courtside at Accor Arena in Paris. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft was seated alongside NBA legends Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Parker, also French, and Ginobili won four championships together as part of the iconic San Antonio Spurs dynasty.
In the same post, soccer stars Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, which plays in Ligue 1, the top division of French soccer, were also seen courtside.
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On X/Twitter, the NBA showed that New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu was also in Paris to watch the game. The one-time WNBA champion competes for Phanbtom BC in the inaugural 3-on-3 women's basketball league, Unrivaled.
French racing driver Esteban Ocon also attended to support his fellow countryman. In 2025, the 28-year-old will compete in Formula One as part of the Haas F1 team.
Thursday's matchup was Wembanyama's first game as an NBA player in his homeland. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick had a monster game, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five blocks on 13-of-21 shooting (4-of-11 on 3-pointers).
The reigning Rookie of the Year helped San Antonio to a 140-110 win over the Indiana Pacers. It was the Spurs' second-highest margin of victory this season. The two-game mini-series with the Pacers concludes on Saturday.
Victor Wembanyama on the impact of future Hall of Famer
After finishing a dismal 22-60 in Wembanyama's rookie campaign, the San Antonio Spurs signed veteran point guard and 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul.
"CP3" is arguably one of the best point guards in history. Earlier this week, "Wemby" shared the impact of Paul and another veteran acquisition on the Spurs' success this season.
"I have progressed in knowing myself and my teammates," Wembanyama said. "This is reflected in many areas, there are stats that are improving, others that are maintaining. We have progressed a lot thanks to [Harrison Barnes] and [Chris Paul]. We are getting closer and closer to the recipe for winning."
Harrison Barnes, a one-time NBA champion, was also acquired last offseason to give the young roster a veteran presence. Paul was one of the NBA's highest-paid players before signing a one-year, $11 million deal with the Spurs.
He recently moved to second on the NBA's all-time assists list, and Paul will hope his experience and basketball IQ can aid Victor Wembanyama's progress.
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