Team France kicked off their Olympic opener against Team Brazil with a 78-66 victory. The game proved the dominance of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama on the international stage, who stunned fans despite his debutant status. Team France’s Coach Vincent Collet was particularly in awe after seeing the NBA star’s performance.

Collet revealed that Victor was initially a little nervous. It was his first appearance on international court, and he knew how much pressure he had on his shoulder.

“He was a little bit nervous. In France, everybody waits for him like — I don’t know which word to use, but everybody waits for him. You have the people who know basketball, and they understand he’s only 20 years old,” Collet said.

The 20-year-old rookie showed he could handle the pressure and perform exceptionally well. In the process, Collet could not resist comparing the Spurs stars with NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“People that like sports but (who) don’t know basketball, they think Victor is already Michael Jordan. (But) take time. Take time,” he added.

Victor Wembanyama’s Stats Against Team Brazil

Team France kicked off the game in a quest to seek a fourth medal in Olympic history. Victor Wembanyama took charge and led his side to a commanding win.

Wembanyama scored 19 points and contributed nine rebounds, four steals, three blocks, and two assists. Nicolas Batum joined him, adding 19 points to the win in the Olympic opener.

Victor is coming off just a season after winning the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year award. The 20-year-old averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 71 games. The young star also averaged 5.5 3-point attempts while shooting 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.