Hint: It isn’t in the NBA.
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama’s star has shone so brightly in the first chapter of his NBA career that, for as much love as the Spurs faithful have shown him, fans in other cities can be expected to boo a little louder to throw him off his game when San Antonio comes to town.
That was particularly the case Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, where Thunder fans were amped to do everything they can to push their team to victory amid what’s become one of the league’s most exciting rivalries. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company did eventually win the game, beating San Antonio 119-98 after the Spurs tabbed the defending champions for three straight wins in November.
Rivalry: Ignited.
Asked after the game if there was another place he’s experienced more hostility as a player than Oklahoma City, the 22-year-old Spurs star didn’t have to think long about his answer. Nor did he confine himself to the NBA.
“The place that stands out, in my opinion, is Panathinaikos,” he said, referring to the Greek Basketball League team based in Athens. “When you talk about hostile, I don’t think it gets more hostile than that. There’s other places that are as loud, but Panathinaikos is by far most impressive for me.”
Wemby played four professional seasons in Europe before arriving to the NBA, so he saw his fair share of arenas – and opposition – before coming stateside. According to proballers.com, he played two games against Panathinaikos, scoring a total of eight points in those matchups before he had turned 18 years old.
Panathinaikos is one of the most distinguished European basketball teams, having won seven EuroLeague championships, third-most in league history.
Answering another question Tuesday night, Wemby acknowledged that NBA competition has proven to be a cut above his European counterparts. But the Frenchman – whose took inspiration from European “ultras” when coming up with the idea for a Spurs superfan section – gave some love to his home country when talking about the impact an energized crowd can have.
“There’s a team called Le Portel in France, they’ve got some of the best fans in the league,” Wembanyama said. “Every season it feels like they’re at the bottom of the league (but) they barely manage to stay in the top league because they get so much energy. They don’t got the best team, but just the culture and the momentum, it’s crazy. It’s a team that would not be what it is without its fans.”