"It's very possible that he'll be the face of basketball. Not just NBA basketball, but world basketball," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

The story, as Buford tells it, goes like this: Claudio Crippa, an international scout for the Spurs, proposed going to see a youth game before checking out Doumbouya. Buford saw Wembanyama play for the first time that day. And the seeds for the Spurs’ new master plan were immediately planted.

While in Paris, Wembanyama has chosen to focus on engaging with French media to help connect with the French audience. His three exclusive interviews were all with French companies, including Picsou Magazine — a children’s magazine he used to read when he was younger.

Victor Wembanyama praised as "mature young man" for his ability to remain focused while juggling commitments for Spurs.

Star, Chris Paul makes a pitch to coaches about selecting Spurs teammate Victor Wembanyama for his first such honor.

The main events start Thursday when Wembanyama and the Spurs take on the Indiana Pacers in the first of two games in Paris. The rematch is Saturday, both happening at Accor Arena, the same building where Wembanyama played in the knockout round of the Paris Olympics last summer when he and France wound up losing to the U.S. in the gold-medal game.

Amid an impressive sophomore NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has made a significant commitment regarding his future. Last week, the San Antonio Spurs found themselves in the midst of an unusual schedule,