Victor Wembanyama to Get International Basketball in This Summer, But Not in FIBA originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
NBA basketball can’t come back soon enough, and after getting teased with the Summer League, San Antonio Spurs fans want to see Victor Wembanyama play basketball for the first time since February.
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Wembanyama will not suit up for France at this summer’s FIBA EuroCup. While fans would relish the chance to see him play for his country after his Olympic dominance last summer, playing it safe is the smart call, and most fans agree that their patience will pay off.
The Spurs have more than two months before their first preseason game, and it will give Wemby a chance to play some international ball while also making team history.
The Spurs will host Guangzhou Loong Lions on Oct. 6 to kick off the preseason, marking the first time that the Spurs will play a Chinese team.
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The Lions have twice played the Washington Wizards and taken on the Philadelphia 76ers, losing in all three contests. Currently, there are no former NBA players on the roster, although Jeremy Lin played for the Lions for seven games in 2022.
Wembanyama will not benefit from the defense-friendly international rules, as the game will be played under the NBA rulebook, although against competition not as polished as the NBA, it should be a great ramp-up for his return to competitive play after missing much of last season.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.