On Thursday, Victor Wembanyama returned to Paris in style.
The San Antonio Spurs star, who grew up outside of Paris and spent five years playing in the French basketball league, returned to his home country this week with a matchup against the Indiana Pacers. With the Paris crowd firmly in his corner, Wembanyama led the Spurs to a dominant 140-110 win over the Pacers in Accor Arena in Paris.
The 21-year-old center was greeted by the French home crowd with an appreciative roar.
Wemby comes out to a ROAR in Paris 🗣️🇫🇷
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
Spurs/Pacers on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/GlIsECLmnD
Wembanyama didn't let that crowd down, putting on a show for his homecoming with a number of key highlights as the Spurs ran up the score.
LOGO WEMBY 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
📺 Spurs/Pacers on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/LezPEBZi5o
ON BOTH ENDS.
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
Wemby swallows the shot and then throws down a lob 😱
Victor has 24p, 11r, 6a, 5b at the end of the 3rd on NBA TV in Paris 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BaaZdohdWo
WEMBY OFF THE GLASS TO HIMSELF 🤯😱
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
Putting on a show in his home country 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/wEEwDpzVkM
After trailing the Pacers for most of the first half, the Spurs took the lead just before halftime. From there, San Antonio took off, with the team putting up 45 points in the third quarter alone. An overwhelmed Indiana team couldn't overcome the deficit, and eventually fell apart in the 30-point win.
With the game locked in, Wembanyama and the rest of the starters returned to the bench for the final minutes of the game. As the 21-year-old took a seat, he was greeted with chants of "MVP" from throughout the arena.
Wemby hears MVP chants in his home country as he checks out of the game 🇫🇷 👏
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
30 PTS | 11 REB | 6 AST | 5 BLK | 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/68gkrrCmec
Wembanyama finished with an impressive 30-point double-double, with a final stat line of 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
Wembanyama has been busy in his return to France. On Tuesday, the young center dedicated two outdoor courts in his hometown of Le Chesnay; on Wednesday, he attended a Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, which PSG won 4-2.
H̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶B̶a̶n̶a̶n̶a̶-̶B̶r̶e̶a̶d̶ Victor Wembanyama was in the house tonight 🤗 pic.twitter.com/ygSFPqJ1Ek
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 22, 2025
And on Thursday, he iced a major win for the struggling Spurs on his home turf.