Victor Wembanyama was selected Monday January 19 to participate in his second All-Star Game, scheduled for February 15 in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old interior of the San Antonio Spurs was this time voted for a place of ” holder “among the five best players in the Western Conference. This is a first for a Frenchman for this match which pits the best basketball players in the North American championship against each other.
Fans (50%), players (25%) and a panel of media (25%) voted for five players from the Western Conference and five in the East, regardless of their position, who will be joined as traditional by 14 players chosen by the coaches.
In the west, Wembenyama is accompanied by Luka Doncic (Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Stephen Curry (Warriors) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets). In the east, those selected are Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers), Cade Cunningham (Pistons) and Jaylen Brown (Celtics).
This selection of Wembanyama for his second All-Star Game rewards the good start to the season of the French basketball player and his team, the Spurs, who are second in the Western Conference with 29 victories and 13 defeats.
The All-Star Game changes format
The notion of “holder” and “replacement” will only be honorary, the NBA having put in place a new competition format to once again try to energize a traditionally soporific evening, which will take place on February 15 in the Intuit Dome, the Clippers’ ultra-modern arena.
Following the internationalization movement of its championship, the prestigious basketball league has decided to oppose “the United States against the world”with a mini-tournament with three teams of eight, two with local players and one made up of foreigners. A group stage will be followed by a final between the two best teams, each match lasting 12 minutes. “Wemby” is thus already assured of being part of a « dream team » with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Doncic and Antetokounmpo.
If there are not enough internationals or Americans at the end of the selection process, commissioner Adam Silver will invite additional players.
Wembenyama, number 1 in the 2023 draft, elected rookie of the year in 2024, therefore continues his progress despite missing 14 matches since the start of the season, due to a calf injury then a knee injury. If his statistics are similar to the previous year (24.5 pts on average against 24.3, 10.9 rebounds against 11, 3 passes against 3.7), the giant (2.24 m) must deal with limited playing time (28.8 min against 33.2) and displays increased efficiency and ease.
