'Better, stronger' Wembanyama can't wait for NBA return

Victor Wembanyama said Monday he had emerged from a curtailed season better and stronger and can't wait to get back on the court when the San Antonio Spurs begin their NBA campaign.

The 7ft 3ins (2.21m) Frenchman, who was rookie of the year in the 2023-2024 season, was forced to shut down his season in February when deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder was discovered.

Wembanyama, 21, told reporters at the Spurs' media day he had used the time off to increase his strength through "brutal" training.

"I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer. And this is my best summer so far," he said. 

"I can tell the progress is just incredible. I feel better. I look stronger. And, you know, the scale says I'm heavier. So everything is a green light."

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When he suits up for the Spurs' first regular season game against Dallas on October 22, it will be eight months since his last appearance, in the All-Star Game.

"On my body, there's only so many steps that I'm going to pass this summer. I'm only going to get so much better. I think I've maxed out what I can do in one summer," Wembanyama said.

"And now I need to play basketball and work on my skills as a team, tactically. So, yeah, I want to play. And I miss it."

Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.8 blocked shots and 1.1 steals a game over 46 games for the Spurs last season.

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