As French forward Victor Wembanyama headed to their semifinal game against Germany, he kept two things in mind. First, the fact that they lost to the Germans emphatically, 85-71. Second, how easily the Germans got the victory. They even shared a laugh or two on the bench long before the game ended.
As crucial a factor playing for national pride is, vengeance proved to be an even stronger motivator for the French team. Wembanyama and his teammate remembered clearly how their opponents were having a great time at their expense, and it was this memory that fueled their desire for revenge.
With this mindset, France locked in and defeated Germany 73-69 to secure a spot in the Olympic finals against the mighty Team USA.
A loss that fueled their win
Losing before their passionate compatriots struck a nerve for the French basketball team. As they watched their opponents celebrate, a fire was lit within them to come back stronger and claim victory in the next matchup.
"Between us, the players, we were just remembering how they were laughing last game, how easy it looked for them. I'm sure losing that game in the group phase helped us win today. Definitely," Wemby said after their thrilling victory over Germany.
While playing in the NBA has brought him unimaginable fame and fortune, the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year admitted that playing for the flag and country brings a different kind of thrill players don't get anywhere else.
"The national team jersey brings us a different energy that we can't find anywhere else. We love our country, and we're willing to do whatever it takes," the 20-year-old added.
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Olympic struggles
As memorable as the Les Bleus' run in the Paris Summer Games has been, Wemby's performances have been forgettable. On Thursday, he struggled to put the ball in the basket, going 4-for-17 and finishing with 11 points. Victor averages 13.8 points in this tournament on 37 percent shooting and 26 percent from beyond the arc.
However, Wemby's defensive presence has been a godsend for the French squad. He is averaging 2.2 blocks per game and was a key factor versus Germany in the semis. The 20-year-old finished with three blocks and kept the Germans—Dennis Schroder, in particular—from attacking the rim. The young man also did a solid job of cleaning the glass, grabbing seven rebounds.
His teammate, Nicolas Batum, shared that he emphasized to Wembanyama that the team doesn't care if he misses his shots so long as he plays stellar defense.
"I told him at halftime, I don't give a damn if you miss your shot — dominate the defensive end. And he did," the veteran wingman said. "I don't care about that. Keep shooting. But at the other end, you've got to be the biggest monster we've ever seen in this competition. And he did the last two games, and he did it tonight. It was amazing."
With the Americans standing in their way for the gold medal, Wembanyama will have a crucial role on both ends of the court. In this winner-take-all game against the Americans, Victor will need to continue playing confidently and impacting defense. His ability to control the paint and disrupt shots will be crucial in limiting the U.S. team's scoring opportunities.
Related: “This France team looked dead as recently as 72 hours ago” - NBA fans react to France advancing to the Finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics
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