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.

It didn’t stop there. When he walked out to center court, took a microphone and said “bonjour” to the crowd pregame, another 30 seconds of cheering exploded inside the Accor Arena in Paris. The young French star returned home with his NBA team — for a two-game set between the Spurs and Pacers — and was greeted with a hero’s welcome.

Thursday's game was proof of concept. Wembanyama will soon be the NBA's signature star, and sending him to Paris for a few games every year is a chance to build one of these signature events around his growing fame and eagerness to please his hometown audience. His presence made all of the difference on Thursday.

The final tally for Victor Wembanyama’s trip in Paris: two games, 50 points, 23 rebounds, eight assists, six blocks, two courts dedicated, one trip to the Eiffel Tower, a Fashion Week appearance, a Champions League match attended and about a million high-fives.

Victor Wembanyama reflected own the "amazing" week that he and the San Antonio Spurs had after they competed in a pair of NBA games in his home town of

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.

To go along with a 140-110 win, the 7'3" 21-year-old center was a highlight reel machine. In 32 minutes of play, Wembanyama pulled off a self-alley-oop from just inside the free-throw line, dished out another to his teammate Jeremy Sochan, played lock-down defense, and was the Spurs' leading scorer on the afternoon.

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.

Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA. And everything he showed in Paris is why. The Spurs superstar understands the responsibilities and immense spotlight he's under, yet still makes it a priority to take his team to dinner.

The San Antonio Spurs' last six losses have all been by double digits, troubling news with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in town