Wembanyama's 1st Olympics ends in tears and a silver medal. But he put his stamp on the Paris Games

PARIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama's first Olympics ended with tears, not gold.

But he put the U.S. — and the rest of the international basketball community for that matter — on notice that he has arrived.

And he is only going to get better.

The French star finished with 26 points and seven rebounds in a 98-87 men's basketball gold-medal game loss to the U.S. on Saturday. It was the second straight Olympic silver for France, which also finished behind the U.S. in Tokyo in 2021.

It capped a dream run at the Paris Games for the 20-year-old, 7-foot-4 star who was the NBA's Rookie of the Year this season. But as he stood after leaving the medal ceremony, he said the experience has only inspired him get back.

“I'm going to enjoy the moment,” he said, clutching his silver medal. “I'm proud of my teammates. I'm proud of having what we've done here in France in front of our fans. I'm going to let it all soak in.”

Wembanyama wasn't shy about saying in the leadup to the Olympics that he hoped France would get a shot to play the U.S. in the medal round.

It arrived in front of a sold-out crowd inside a Bercy Arena adorned with France's blue-white-and-red flags. French basketball great Tony Parker, who starred and won four NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs team that Wembanyama now plays for, was in attendance.

Feeding off the energy of the host nation's fans, Wembanyama showed his full repertoire of skills opposite a loaded U.S. team full of the same stars who currently dominate the league he hopes to rise to the top of one day.

He finished at the rim, kept plays alive, hit 3-pointers and was a deterrent at times for U.S. shooters trying to score inside the paint.

He acknowledged that sharing the court with the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant with an Olympic gold at stake took his level up a notch as well.

“The final did,” Wembanyama said. “I always try to help my team in whatever is needed. And I'm ready to make any sacrifice. And tonight it was scoring. Through these games, if the defense was too focused on me, my teammates did a good job taking their responsibilities. ... They were incredible.”

Wembanyama got off to a quick start, scoring seven points in the first four minutes, including a highlight dunk after blowing past Joel Embiid at the top of the key.

“That kid is special,” Embiid said.

He had 20 points by the end of the third quarter, helping to carry the scoring load for France along with Guerschon Yabusele.

Wembanyama was on the bench getting a final rest in the fourth quarter when the U.S. took an 82-72 lead.

It was down to 82-74 when he returned with 4:15 play.

Following Nando de Colo's layup, Wembanyama came out to help Nicolas Batum double-team Curry and forced Curry to turn it over to Yabusele, who was fouled on the fast break. He made 1 of 2 free throws to make it 82-77.

Wembanyama then came through with a tip-in, before a 3-pointer by Curry and two free throws by Durant gave the U.S. an eight-point cushion with just over two minutes to play.

France tried to stay close the rest of the way, but a closing flurry by the U.S. that included four more 3s by Curry put away the game.

As the U.S. celebrated at midcourt, Wembanyama walked by himself, head down. After a few seconds, he began hugging teammates, tears in his eyes.

One by one the American players began to console him as the teams shook hands. Wembanyama then went to bench and put his head in a towel.

He said they were tears of determination. He's had a taste of playing against the world's best while representing his home country.

Wembanyama wants more. And he believes the experience of the last three weeks will travel with him for the rest of his career

“Nobody is going to take that from me," he said. "I'm learning and I'm worried for the opponents in a couple years.”

NBA and FIBA?

“Everywhere.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France and United States' Anthony Davis (14) battle under the basket during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France shoots during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France reacts during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

United States' Jayson Tatum (10) knocks the ball from Victor Wembanyama (32), of France during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France celebrates after scoring a basket against United States during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Germany on Saturday was still in shock and struggling to understand the suspect behind the attack in the city of Magdeburg.

Identified by local media as 50-year-old Taleb A., a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist, authorities said he has been living in Germany for two decades. He was arrested on site after plowing a black BMW into a Christmas market crowded with holiday shoppers Friday evening, killing at least five people and wounding about 200 others.

Prominent German terrorism expert Peter Neumann posted on X that he had yet to come across a suspect in an act of mass violence with that profile.

Taleb’s X account is filled with tweets and retweets focusing on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the religion while sharing congratulatory notes to Muslims who left the faith. He also described himself as a former Muslim.

He was critical of German authorities, saying they had failed to do enough to combat the “Islamism of Europe.”

He has also voiced support for the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Some described Taleb as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their homeland. Recently, he seemed focused on his theory that German authorities have been targeting Saudi asylum seekers.

Neumann, the terrorism expert, wrote: “After 25 years in this ‘business’ you think nothing could surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim who lives in East Germany, loves the AfD and wants to punish Germany for its tolerance towards Islamists — that really wasn’t on my radar."

On Saturday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters: “At this point, we can only say for sure that the perpetrator was evidently Islamophobic – we can confirm that. Everything else is a matter for further investigation and we have to wait.”

A German-based organization called Athiest Refugee Relief said the alleged attacker was not a part of the group and claimed that he made “numerous accusations and claims” against it and former board members, which it said were false.

“We distance ourselves from him in the strongest terms," the group said in a statement on its website, adding that members of Atheist Refugee Relief filed a criminal complaint against him in 2019 following “the most foul slander and verbal attacks."

An image taken from a video shows police officers arresting a suspect after car drove into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, Friday Dec. 20, 2024. (TNN/DPA via AP)

A person stands by flowers and candles placed outside St. John's Church near a Christmas Market, where a car drove into a crowd on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)