Victor Wembanyama crowned “rookie of the year”: the French prodigy wins the trophy after his first season in the NBA

Victor Wembanyama remporte le trophée de “rookie de l'année”. MAXPPP – ADAM DAVIS

Victor Wembanyama was unsurprisingly named “rookie of the year", the NBA announced on Monday, validating the NBA's convincing first season. basketball prodigy, first tricolor to be offered this award.

The Frenchman, aged only 20, drafted as Number 1 by the San Antonio Spurs in June 2023, thus wins a first trophy, which calls for others, like the' #39;confirmed a first NBA season that lived up to the immense expectations it arouses. "I knew that to get there, I had to be good individually and dominant on the field", Wembanyama told TNT. Rookie of the Year has always been a big deal and I'm glad it's finally official.

One of the greatest rookie seasons the NBA has seen.

Victor Wembanyama, the unanimous #KiaROY. 👽 pic.twitter.com/ZKKhqo9ymj

— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2024

If the collective results were not there, with 14th place (out of 15 in the West) for the Spurs, the first NBA season for the French giant ( 2.24 m) was successful on an individual level.

After some doubts at the start of the exercise, "Wemby" had extinguished the suspense for the outcome of this award reserved for beginners, for which he beat Oklahoma City pivot Chet Holmgren. Holmgren (22 years old), an American with characteristics similar to the Frenchman (very tall, 2.16 m, mobile and dexterous), is announced as Wembanyama's great rival in the years to come, after the two players have already faced each other during international youth competitions.

The French prodigy

To succeed Orlando Magic player Paolo Banchero, a panel of 99 media personalities following the NBA designated "Wemby" as their unanimous No.1 choice. The native of Chesnay (Yvelines) thus becomes the first Frenchman to receive the award, the third European after the Spaniard Pau Gasol (2002) and the Slovenian Luka Doncic (2019).

Although not very victorious with the Spurs (22 wins, 60 losses), Wembanyama lit up the league with his talent, immediately becoming one of the fans' favorites: he was the third player to have generated the most videos "views" on social networks (1.3 billion) according to the NBA, behind superstars LeBron James (1.9 ) and Stephen Curry (1.7). And he continued to improve throughout the season.

"I put a lot of effort into the 'playmaking', the shot selection and also, after the playing time restrictions I had, I had to get back in good shape to play more than 30-35 minutes. Cardio, I think, I've made big progress on that, analyzed the French prodigy. "I've never improved so much in so few months, so I'm very happy".

This trophy"rookie of the year" validates the season of Wembanyama, placed at the heart of the Spurs reconstruction project, with rare statistics for a beginner. In 71 of his franchise's 82 games – he was rested for a few ankle scares – the Frenchman averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks, placing him in the lead for the entire NBA in this last statistical area.

"Look forward to seeing you at the Games!"

Visible and spectacular elements of his defensive work, Wembanyama's counterattacks could offer him a new trophy on Tuesday, he who is one of the three finalists for the reward of &quot ;defender of the year", along with his compatriot Rudy Gobert and Miami pivot Bam Adebayo.

The outcome is much more uncertain this time, facing two experienced All-Star players. Gobert, the centerpiece in Minnesota of the best NBA defense, more than ever in the title race, has already won the award three times (2018, 2019 and 2021). Adebayo (26), eliminated with the Miami Heat in the first round of the play-offs by Boston, was selected by the United States in a "dream team" for the Paris Olympic Games.

Paris and the Olympic rings are the next horizon for Wembanyama, currently resting while the strongest teams in the league battle in the play-offs. There is no doubt that the giant will be called up on May 16 by coach Vincent Collet, who is counting on his former player at Metropolitans 92 to shine at the Games, from his first senior international competition.

C'est officiel : Victor Wembanyama est sacré Rookie de l'année.

Son parcours est une fierté pour la France et pour tous les amoureux du basket. 🏀🇫🇷

Félicitations @wemby. Hâte de vous voir aux Jeux ! pic.twitter.com/mdhT4SOJft

— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) May 6, 2024

"Looking forward to seeing you at the Games!", also wrote on -Twitter) Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, in a congratulatory message. Victor Wembanyama's career "is a source of pride for France and for all basketball lovers", he praised.