Wembanyama-Kobero piles acid on France’s basketball with Gobert
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) and Rudy Gobert (Minnesota), two of the best defenders in the National Basketball Association (NBA), have vowed to “defend under the basket” for Team France at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
According to Myinfo, the official information site of the Paris Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, Gobert said in a video press conference on Thursday (local time), “We talk about defense every day. There is no doubt that it is the driving force of our team,” Kobe said.
“Everyone knows that if you want to go all the way, you have to play good defense. “We know that defense is going to make our offense better,” he added, ”and we’re working hard to maximize our 파워볼사이트 strengths.
Wembanyama, the unanimous Rookie of the Year for the 2023-2024 season, said he learned a lot of good lessons in preparation for the tournament, adding, “The energy in the team is great. We are on the right path,” he said.
“The road ahead of us will not be smooth. There will be difficulties,” but added: ”I have never seen a team with such a strong will to do something before. I’m very confident.”
The two players are considered two of the best defenders in the NBA, a league of the world’s best players.
Gobert was named Defensive Player of the Year in the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2020-2021 and 2023-2024 seasons while playing for the Utah Jazz.
In the 2023-2024 season, he appeared in 76 regular-season games, averaging 14 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocked shots per game.
Gobert is only the third player in history to win the award four times, joining Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, who won the award in 1982-1983.
Wembanyama, who was dubbed the “talent of the century” and had an impressive rookie season in the NBA, was just as defensive-minded as Gobert in his first season.
In 71 games, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocked shots.
Wembanyama stands over 220 centimeters tall and measures a whopping 243 centimeters with his arms outstretched. His 3.6 blocked shots per game average was the highest in the last eight seasons.
France, who will be playing for Olympic gold at home, will open their campaign against Brazil on Sunday.
“Mentally, I’m very excited,” Wembanyama said of her first Olympic Games. It’s hard to believe that I’m actually competing in the Olympics,” said Wembanyama. ”Our team represents France. I feel a responsibility to live up to the expectations.”
Gobert, who forms a ‘twin tower’ under Wambanyama in goal, said he had “prepared well” and added: “The most important thing for me and the whole team is whether we have actually improved (in terms of performance) in preparation for this tournament. We feel that we have,” he said.
