Victor Wembanyama returned to competitive international basketball Thursday with a dominant performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds in just 21 minutes as France defeated Slovenia 92-67 in FIBA World Cup qualifying action at Bercy Arena in Paris.
The game marked Wembanyama's first international contest that counted since France won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to Yahoo Sports, Wembanyama now serves as the captain of Les Bleus, a new role for the San Antonio Spurs superstar.
His return to form came after a more uneven showing in a pair of friendly games last week against Serbia and Nikola Jokic. On Thursday, playing in front of a partisan home crowd, Wembanyama looked far more like the player who has become one of the most talked-about names in basketball. He contributed several highlight-reel plays along with his efficient scoring numbers.
Slovenia was missing its biggest star. Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers All-Star, sat out this round of qualifying games due to family reasons, leaving Slovenia without its primary offensive weapon.
The win pushed France to 6-1 in Group L, placing them in first place. Les Bleus are on track for next year's World Cup in Qatar. Their next game is scheduled for Sunday against Sweden in Stockholm.
