Victor Wembanyama named Panathinaikos’ atmosphere as the most hostile and impressive in the EuroLeague.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama shared his thoughts on the most impressive atmosphere he has ever faced in his career after the away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which the Spurs lost 98–119.
Wemby received a lot of boos in Oklahoma City, but when asked whether he has faced a more hostile atmosphere in his career, he quickly responded that it wasn’t anything special, naming Panathinaikos’ atmosphere as the most hostile in the EuroLeague.
“The place that stands out, in my opinion, is Panathinaikos," Wemby said in the postgame press conference. "When you talk about hostile, I don’t think it gets more hostile. Other places are as loud, but Panathinaikos is by far the most impressive for me."
Although fans are more hostile in Europe, ultimately, playing is far more difficult in the NBA in his opinion.
“It’s much harder, because the players are much better,” he stated.
He also named another team in France, emphasizing how much fan support can impact a team’s play.
“There are some teams in Europe that rely almost entirely on the crowd. Off the top of my head, there is a team called Le Portel in France. They have some of the best fans in the league, and every season it feels like they barely manage to stay in the top league because they have so much energy," he said.
"They don’t have the best team, but their culture, momentum—it’s crazy. It’s a team that would not be what it is without its fans,” Wemby concluded, highlighting the differences in fan support between Europe and the NBA.
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