Victor Wembanyama becomes a medalist at the Paris Olympics

PARIS — After France qualified for the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics, the collar of Victor Wembanyama’s jersey was stained with blood from a fresh cut on the left side of his neck. He sweated throughout the match and fought back tears when it ended.

Blood, sweat and tears. That sounds perfect.

“Our national anthem is about blood,” Wembanyama said. “We are willing to bleed on the court, so it’s no big deal. If it wins us a gold medal, I offer it. Take it all.”

read: Schedule: Paris 2024 Olympic Basketball Final, USA vs France

Already an international sensation, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year and No. 1 draft pick, Wenbanyama now has a new accolade to add to his list of Olympic medals. The only question is whether he’ll win gold or silver, and that will be decided Saturday night in the final of the Paris Olympic men’s basketball tournament.

France will play for a second consecutive Olympic gold medal after beating Germany 73-69 in the first of two semifinal games on Thursday, in a rematch of the final, in which France lost to the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympic final three years ago, when the U.S. rallied back from a 17-point deficit to beat Serbia 95-91.

Wenbanyama was just a kid then, 17 and just starting to be known as an NBA prospect. Now he’s 7-foot-4, 20 and already considered a national hero. Not to mention in San Antonio, he’s tasked with leading the Spurs back to prominence, and that star status could grow even more on Saturday night.

“Obviously, this is part of a dream come true,” Wembanyama said. “We get to be part of the goal we set for ourselves a few months ago. Plus, we get to make history. It’s a once in a lifetime dream.”

Read: Team USA beats Serbia, plays France for men’s basketball gold medal

On Thursday, with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and team president R.C. Buford watching, he finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and shot just 4 for 17 from the field. The numbers weren’t great, but his impact went far beyond what was recorded on the stat sheet.

Midway through the third quarter, German guard Dennis Schroder dodged Wenbayama on his way to the hoop. All Wenbayama had to do at that point was basically turn around and stick out his right arm to stop Schroder’s shot from ever getting even a little bit in the air.

France’s Matthias Lesole (26) and Victor Wembanyama (32) celebrate after their win against Germany during the men’s basketball semifinal of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

In the fourth quarter, he again got past Schroder, but this time blocked a three-point try. That led to a three-pointer by France’s Frank Ntilikina that gave the home team a 10-point lead and made Wembanyama pump his fist in celebration. As Germany inched back up late, Wembanyama made a sublime bounce pass down the lane with just a moment left on the shot clock to set up Gershon Yabusele for two free throws to put the lead back up at 69-60 with four minutes to go.

And France held on. A Wembanyama free throw with 10.9 seconds left made the score 71-68, but Germany couldn’t get a shot to tie or take the lead and the game was over. France was understandably ecstatic after the game.

Read: France gets revenge on Germany, advances to Paris Olympic Basketball Final

“The fans brought me to tears,” Wembanyama said. “I’m so grateful to them.”

France has already achieved something rare: Home-court advantage doesn’t usually mean much in Olympic men’s basketball.

France will become just the third team to compete for the Olympic men’s basketball gold medal on home soil, after the U.S. team won both championships in 1984 in Los Angeles and 1996 in Atlanta.

Only two men’s basketball teams have ever won a medal at a domestic tournament: the United States (gold in 1984 and 1996) and the Soviet Union (bronze) at the 1980 Moscow Games. France can add to that list by winning gold or silver on Saturday.

In recent years, most Olympic host nations have not even come close to winning a medal: Japan came in 11th in Tokyo three years ago, Brazil came in 9th in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Great Britain came in 9th in London in 2012, China came in 8th in Beijing in 2008, Spain came in 9th in Barcelona in 1992, and South Korea came in 9th in Seoul in 1988. (The exceptions to these years were the United States’ win in 1996, Australia’s fourth place in Sydney in 2000, and Greece’s fifth place in Athens in 2004.)

Of course, Wenbanyama wasn’t on those teams.

In his first year with San Antonio, he was the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year, was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award and was also named to numerous All-NBA selections. He was France’s rising star coming into this tournament.

He’s had a great run at these Olympics and now has a chance to win the gold medal.

“This jersey brings a different energy to us that you don’t find anywhere else,” Wembanyama said. “It’s something we all feel as patriots. We love our jersey. We love our country.”