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NBA top pick Wembanyama has 27 points, 12 rebounds in Spurs loss

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="San Antonio Spurs first round pick Victor Wembanyama of France gives fans a first look dressed in a Spurs uniform during a shoot around at the press conference at the AT&amp;T Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA, June 24, 2023. Adam Davis, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/06/25/062523_nba_sas-victor-wembanyama_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>San Antonio Spurs first round pick Victor Wembanyama of France gives fans a first look dressed in a Spurs uniform during a shoot around at the press conference at the AT&amp;T Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA, June 24, 2023. <em>Adam Davis, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LAS VEGAS <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> -- Victor Wembanyama, the NBA&#x27;s top draft pick, showed improvement Sunday in his second game with San Antonio, scoring 27 points in an 85-80 NBA Summer League loss to Portland.</p><p>The 19-year-old French center, who stands 7-foot-4 (2.24m), has been hyped as the NBA&#x27;s best prospect since LeBron James 20 years ago, but had received a wake-up call in his first game against NBA talent.</p><p>This time, though, Wembanyama grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, blocked three shots and made a steal in just under 27 minutes on the court.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s just me getting comfortable with myself and my body,&quot; he said. &quot;Before today I had two practices and one game. I was just getting going.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s normal to get better every game. I had so much stuff going on with the draft and the game, so it makes sense.&quot;</p><p>Wembanyama sank 9-of-14 shots from the floor, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 7-of-12 from the free throw line.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U6fdQ_Pluh0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>&quot;He was a tough matchup for us,&quot; said Portland guard Michael Devoe, who scored a game-high 29 points.</p><p>&quot;We just wanted to be physical with him and try to make him make tough shots over us. He did a great job but I think defensively we did a great job too.&quot;</p><p>In his debut on Friday, Wembanyama struggled with nine points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists in just over 27 minutes as the Spurs beat Charlotte 76-68. He made only 2-of-13 shots from the floor and just 1-of-6 from 3-point range.</p><p>&quot;In the past month I don&#x27;t think basketball was 50% of my schedule,&quot; Wembanyama said. &quot;I can&#x27;t stand it. I know it&#x27;s a special moment in my life but I&#x27;m glad it&#x27;s over.</p><p>&quot;I just want to hoop, work out, lift, because this is my life. It just makes me better for the future.&quot;</p><p>Against the Trail Blazers, Wembanyama looked more comfortable with the Spurs offensive schemes, something he said was a problem in his first game, and was able to make dunks and grab attacking rebounds.</p><p>&quot;I wish we would have won the game,&quot; he said. &quot;I think I could have done more to help my teammates win this game. We&#x27;ve got to keep learning.&quot;</p><p>Wembanyama sank a late 3-pointer to lift the Spurs within 79-78 with 1:58 remaining, but Devoe answered with a 3-pointer for Portland and the Spurs never came so close again.</p><p>&quot;They could see us developing,&quot; Wembanyama said. &quot;In the fourth we were really dominating. It shows the real personality of the team.&quot;</p><p>The Summer League, featuring young prospects trying to earn a place on NBA rosters, marks Wembanyama&#x27;s first games in a Spurs uniform and a hint of what he might face against more veteran competition when the NBA regular season begins in October.</p><p>&quot;Here players are just flying. There&#x27;s more pushing on the ground,&quot; Wembanyama said. &quot;Creatively it&#x27;s just the best in the world. Way more talent. I like this better.&quot;</p><div><strong>- Life-changing months -</strong></div><p>Wembanyama said after his first practice that he wasn&#x27;t going to play more than two Summer League games. The Spurs&#x27; next play Tuesday against Washington and face Detroit on Friday.</p><p>&quot;I need to sit down with the Spurs to see what the next months are going to be like, when to go on vacation, when to start back working out, where I&#x27;m going to practice,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve got two or three great months that are coming. They are going to change my life.&quot;</p><p>The Spurs announced Saturday that 74-year-old coach and president of basketball operations Gregg Popovich has signed a new five-year contract with the club.</p><p>He&#x27;s the longest-tenured coach in US sports, has guided the Spurs to five NBA titles and the US team to Tokyo Olympic gold.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a sign from him and from the franchise that they care about the project,&quot; Wembanyama said. &quot;There&#x27;s something great starting.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Victor Wembanyama, the NBA's top draft pick, showed improvement Sunday in his second game with San Antonio.