OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) 鈥� When the Western Conference finals started, Victor Wembanyama that the San Antonio Spurs star desperately wanted.
Wembanyama left the series with an MVP trophy of his own 鈥� and a whole lot more.
The French standout 鈥� in just his third season 鈥� has led the Spurs to the . The newly crowned Western Conference finals MVP had 22 points in a , one that gave San Antonio a chance to play for the NBA title for the first time since 2014. It’ll be San Antonio vs. New York in the NBA Finals, starting Wednesday night.
鈥淲inning the Larry O鈥橞rien, it鈥檚 a childhood dream,鈥� Wembanyama said, referring to the name of the trophy given to the NBA champions. 鈥淎nd having a real shot at it, having a chance, a tangible chance at winning it and realizing a dream 鈥� it鈥檚 a lifetime chance. You never know when it鈥檚 going to happen again.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put into words. It鈥檚 almost like the meaning of my life now.鈥�
He averaged 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in the series, scoring at least 20 points in every game. He set the tone with a 41-point effort in a Game 1 win, then did a little of everything 鈥� dunks, blocks, playing point guard even 鈥� to keep control on the way to the Game 7 win. He was the unanimous pick as series MVP, which should be no surprise. He carried that trophy into the locker room after the game, screaming in joy at supporters and teammates.
鈥淵ou work all these hours, it鈥檚 for these type of emotions,鈥� Wembanyama said. 鈥淚 want to win so bad. It鈥檚 like my life depends on it.鈥�
On the night he was drafted, Wembanyama talked about all the things he knew about San Antonio. Breakfast tacos, which he couldn鈥檛 wait to try. Spanish, which he said he wanted to learn. The culture, which he said he wanted to embrace.
And, of course, the winning.
鈥淭he ring,鈥� Wembanyama said that night.
The ring. The championship ring. Not even three years since leaving France and coming to the U.S., Wembanyama is about to get his first chance to play for it.
鈥淭he best player in the world,鈥� Spurs forward Keldon Johnson yelled at no one in particular, but making clear everyone knew who he was talking about.
He didn鈥檛 get that NBA MVP trophy. But it wouldn鈥檛 be difficult to say Wembanyama indeed is the best player in the world. Or at the very least, will be soon. He might not even be near his prime yet. The Spurs are young and built for the long haul.
Translated: This may just be the start.
鈥淲hen you step into a game in regular season, you don鈥檛 even look at the big picture of the season. You look at what you need to do tonight, what you have to do in the first half, on the first possession,鈥� Wembanyama said. 鈥淎nd when you lay a brick like this every time you get a chance and you lay it perfectly fine, at the end of the day you get a big castle 鈥� a beautiful house and we just did. This, it鈥檚 just like the entry hall of our castle right here.鈥�
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