T.J. Parker on Victor Wembanyama: 'He showed he can play at the highest level' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

Victor Wembanyama stole the show in Kaunas, producing the best game of his career and leading LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne to a win against Zalgiris.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Elie Okobo Points 21 Accuracy 7-13 Rebounds 4 Assists 5

Wembanyama broke 6 personal career records and accumulated14 points (6/7 2PT, 2/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 3 drawn fouls, 3 turnovers, and 23 PIR.

ASVEL's head coach T.J. Parker praised his 18-year-old center, naming important Wembanyama's quality.

"First of all, he listens, and he wants to get better," Parker said on Wembanyama. "It's not easy for him because he has that kind of body. He has to get stronger, and he works hard every day, so he deserves his minutes."

"If he continues to listen, he'll get more and more playing time. I trust him to be at the end of the games," he added.

Wembanyama will be eligible for NBA Draft in 2023. Parker noted that there's still time until then, and the most important thing is staying healthy.

This season, Wembanyama suffered at least two significant injuries, taking part in only 10 EuroLeague games this season.

The 18-year-old center suffered a small finger fracture in November and bone contusion in his right shoulder in December.

"It's a long time from now," Parker said on the upcoming NBA Draft in 2023. "He still has a year and a half left. Most important for me and him is to stay healthy."

"With the type of body he has, it was difficult for him to stay healthy and to find his rhythm, so he couldn't practice. Now he's been working for a month or two and gets better and better," he added.

Asked what it's like to develop such a prospect like Wembanyama and at the same time take responsibility for the team's results, Parked admitted that this is the reason he came to ASVEL.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne / Schedule

Real Madrid LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne70-58 Zalgiris Kaunas LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne68-72 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne Olympiakos PiraeusFri19:00

"That's the job. I made a choice to come to ASVEL when I saw him in Paris. We saw a new project. He wanted to take a challenge, and he's doing it. Tonight, he showed he can play at the highest level at his age," Parked noted.

Talking about the game, ASVEL's head coach admitted that the game wasn't easy, but he was satisfied with how his team controlled the game.

"It was a tough game. They came back with a run, but after that, we fought through that and kept control in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a win," Parker noted in a short statement.

Alongside Wembanyama, there was a 2.20-meter tall Youssoupha Fall, forming a combined 4.39-meter tall frontcourt.

"We have so many players, and it's tough to play them together," Parker explained such a decision. "I like to play Victor at the five position and James (Gist) at the four, so Wembanyama could play as a five on defense. He's a really good rim protector."

"Fall is also important at rim protection but together… Of course, sometimes you let them play together, but I have so many players, so I try to match different players with different guys," Parker concluded.

Thank you for reading us! Help us even more.