French basketball sensation Victor Wembanyama shared a heartfelt conversation with his childhood idol, Kevin Durant, following Team USA’s gold medal win over France. The encounter, which Wembanyama later described during an appearance on a French television show, highlighted the mutual respect and admiration between the two basketball stars.
After a hard-fought game that saw Team USA clinch the gold medal with a 98-87 victory over France, Wembanyama was visibly emotional. The young French star, who had been instrumental in leading his team to the finals, found solace in Durant’s words. The two embraced on the court, a gesture that spoke volumes about the camaraderie and sportsmanship that define the Olympic spirit.
Wembanyama, who has often been compared to Durant due to his height and playing style, revealed that Durant offered words of encouragement and congratulations.
“It was a classic one-on-one moment for encouragement and congratulations for each other,” Wembanyama shared. “I made it clear to him that I wanted to learn from him and perhaps only steal one or two of his secret techniques”.
For Wembanyama, the encounter was particularly special as Durant has been his favorite player since childhood.
“Clearly, this is my personal childhood favorite. He became my favorite player,” Wembanyama said.
The young star’s admiration for Durant was evident as he spoke about the impact the NBA legend has had on his career and aspirations.
Despite the loss, Wembanyama remains optimistic about the future. He praised his teammates and fans for their support throughout the tournament.
“I’m proud of my teammates. I’m proud of having done what we’ve done here in France in front of our fans,” he said. Reflecting on the experience, Wembanyama issued a warning to his future opponents: “I’m learning, and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years. NBA, FIBA, everywhere”.
“He became my favorite childhood player… I made it clear that I wanted to learn from him [and] perhaps only steal 1 or 2 of his secret techniques.”
Victor Wembanyama on his conversation with Kevin Durant after the gold medal game 🙌
(via @m6info / YT)pic.twitter.com/wbTDvFpsG7
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 15, 2024
