By Nick Moyle, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News, 2024-06-06 14:52:31
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
巴黎，法国 - 12 月 30 日：萨卡里·里萨舍 (Zaccharie Risacher) 代表法国队在巴黎阿科尔酒店竞技场举行的全明星赛中运球奔跑。 (摄影：奥雷利安·莫尼埃/盖蒂图片社)
显然，对维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的运动天赋感到敬畏，不仅仅是普通人才会有的感受。
即使是像蒂贾尼·萨拉昂 (Tidjane Salaun) 这样拥有修长四肢、身高 6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米）的少年，在扣篮时他的眼睛都与篮筐齐平，也常常被这位法国同胞打破极限的能力所震惊。
萨拉昂在意大利特雷维索的 NBA 选秀联合选拔会上，于周二的一次 Zoom 采访中表示：“他让不可能变得可能。维克多不仅对篮球运动员来说是灵感来源，对法国所有的运动员来说都是如此。这对我们所有人来说都是一件好事。他每天都在激励着我。”
本月晚些时候，萨拉昂将正式加入文班亚马，进入 NBA。他甚至可能会预订同一班飞往圣安东尼奥的航班。模拟选秀中，这位 18 岁的法国职业球员的顺位从第 5 位到第 12 位不等——马刺队的顺位分别是第 4 位和第 8 位。
萨拉昂并不是本周唯一一位在接受媒体采访时谈论了马刺队的潜在乐透目标的球员。塞尔维亚后卫尼古拉·托皮克 (Nikola Topic) 和冉冉升起的法国边锋萨卡里·里萨舍 (Zaccharie Risacher) 也在意大利提供了最新的情况。
以下是从这三位球员口中获得的信息：
萨卡里·里萨舍 (Zaccharie Risacher)，6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米），前锋，19 岁，JL 布尔格（法国）
里萨舍被评为 2024 年欧洲杯新星，并已成为 JL 布尔格的关键贡献者，该队参加了法国顶级职业联赛。他有望成为连续第二个被选中为状元的法国人。
这位 6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米）的边锋表示，他还没有与马刺队的任何人会面，尽管他注意到马刺队在本赛季出现了很多次。
“我知道马刺队为了观看我在场上的表现，专门到法国观看了多场比赛。但是现在我还没有与任何人会面。我当时只是专注于比赛，因为那是赛季中最艰难的部分，也许是最重要的部分。我想我的经纪人已经和所有需要联系的人谈过了。但我只是专注于比赛。我还不知道哪支球队会选中我，但我迫不及待地想知道。”
里萨舍补充说，他很高兴看到所有的努力都得到了回报，并让他在选秀排行榜上名列前茅。现在大多数分析师认为他将在前三顺位被选中。
“这是我一生努力的反映，”里萨舍说。“我是一个多面手。我知道我可以做很多事。教练想让我做什么，我知道我能做到。我已经在今年展示了这一点。我知道我可以做得比今年更多。而且我打得很强硬。我不想输球。我是一个赢家。我认为在打篮球时，你的强硬态度也很重要。所以我可以做很多事。我可以很技术性，但通常情况下我会专注于强硬，努力比赛，并与所有人竞争。”
马刺队选秀资料：萨卡里·里萨舍的情况
蒂贾尼·萨拉昂 (Tidjane Salaun)，6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米），前锋，18 岁，绍莱篮球队（法国）
萨拉昂是另一位后起之秀，他因与职业球员对战时顽强的表现而受到赞扬。这位 6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米）的前锋被评为 FIBA 冠军联赛最佳年轻球员，场均 22.7 分钟能贡献 9 分、4 个篮板、1.4 个三分球、1.2 次抢断和 1 次助攻，是该联赛中最年轻的轮换球员。
对萨拉昂的主要批评是，他仍然很稚嫩，缺乏一些基本技能，特别是在进攻端。他在选秀前一直在努力解决这些问题，并表示他一直在与马刺队保持联系。
“我想提高我的运球能力，为我和我的队友创造更多机会，”他说。“还有（提高我的）效率。”
虽然萨拉昂没有被问到文班亚马，但他确实回答了一个关于他所受某位法国现役球星启发的提问。
“鲁迪·戈贝尔，因为他来自绍莱篮球队，我所在的俱乐部，”萨拉昂谈到这位四届 NBA 防守球员时说。“所以他是一个榜样。我本赛季都在我们球馆的海报上看到了他。每次比赛，当我们走出来的时候，我都会看到他（在横幅上）。看到他现在取得的成就，对我来说是一个激励。”
尼古拉·托皮克 (Nikola Topic)，6 英尺 6 英寸（约 1.98 米），后卫，18 岁，贝尔格莱德红星队（塞尔维亚）
托皮克的选秀顺位本周不幸受到打击，因为他被确诊为前交叉韧带部分撕裂。据 ESPN 报道，托皮克本周将前往美国接受 NBA 球队医生的评估。
他仍然被视为一个具有未来全明星潜力的乐透秀，作为进攻发起者，尽管这次受伤可能会让一些球队犹豫。在周二，也就是他受伤消息传出前大约 24 小时，托皮克表示他还没有与马刺队的任何管理层成员或球探交谈，但已与球队医生会面。
马刺队选秀资料：尼古拉·托皮克的情况
“我和他们的医生谈过，但仅此而已，”托皮克说。“如果我去亚特兰大、圣安东尼奥，或者底特律，我的做法都是一样的。那就是尽我所能成为最好的球员，让周围的每个人都变得更好。”
暗示了伤情的严重性，托皮克说自 4 月底在亚得里亚海联赛季后赛决赛第一场比赛中重新受伤后，他一直在进行康复。
“首先，我正在进行膝盖伤势的康复，”托皮克说。“现在我的主要目标是让我的膝盖感觉好，身体感觉好。之后我会进行篮球训练。我一直都在健身房训练。它还没有完全恢复。我还没有开始跑步或进行篮球训练。重点是我的身体，主要是。”
伊斯坦布尔，土耳其 - 1 月 2 日：费内巴切贝科队的塔里克·比伯罗维奇 (Tarik Biberovic) (13) 和乔纳森·莫特利 (Jonathen Motley) (0) 与贝尔格莱德红星队的尼古拉·托皮克 (Nikola Topic) (C) 在 2023 年 1 月 2 日土耳其伊斯坦布尔乌尔克体育和活动中心举行的土耳其航空欧冠篮球比赛费内巴切与红星队的比赛中发生冲突。 (摄影：艾姆拉赫·约鲁尔马兹/安纳多卢社，经盖蒂图片社授权)
伊斯坦布尔，土耳其 - 1 月 2 日：贝尔格莱德红星队的尼古拉·托皮克 (Nikola Topic) (44) 在 2024 年 1 月 2 日土耳其伊斯坦布尔乌尔克体育馆举行的土耳其航空欧冠常规赛第 18 轮比赛，费内巴切贝科伊斯坦布尔队对阵贝尔格莱德红星队的比赛中。 (摄影：托尔加·阿达纳利/欧洲篮球联赛，经盖蒂图片社授权)
这位身高 6 英尺 9 英寸（约 2.06 米），19 岁的边锋萨卡里·里萨舍 (Zaccharie Risacher) 表示，他需要加强运球，但他在三个欧洲赛季中 40.7% 的三分球命中率表明他的投篮能力很稳固。
点击查看原文：International lottery prospects talk Spurs, Wemby at NBA combine
International lottery prospects talk Spurs, Wemby at NBA combine
PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 30: Zaccharie Risacher of Team France runs with the ball during the All Star Game at AccorHotels Arena on December 30, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images,)
Feeling awestruck by the athletic exploits of Victor Wembanyama is, apparently, not reserved solely for the average mortal.
Even someone like Tidjane Salaun, a long-limbed 6-foot-9 teenager whose eyes rise to rim-level on dunks, is often floored by the way his fellow Frenchman stretches the bounds of possibility.
“He makes the impossible, possible,” Salaun said Tuesday on a Zoom availability during the NBA draft combine in Treviso, Italy. “Victor is an inspiration for not only basketball players but for all the sports in France. And that’s great for all of us. He inspires me every day.”
Later this month, Salaun will officially join Wembanyama in the NBA. He might even book the same flight to San Antonio. Mock drafts have the 18-year-old French pro going anywhere from No. 5 to No. 12 — the Spurs pick at No. 4 and No. 8.
Salaun wasn’t the only prospective Spurs lottery target who spoke with the media this week with the June 26 draft approaching. Serbian guard Nikola Topic and rising French wing Zaccharie Risacher also provided some updates from Italy.
Here’s what that trio had to say:
Zaccharie Risacher, 6-9, F, 19, JL Bourg (France)
Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star and has emerged as a key contributor for JL Bourg, which competes in France’s top pro league. He’s in the conversation to become the second straight Frenchman selected first overall.
The 6-9 wing said he has not yet met with anybody from the Spurs, though he noted their presence during this past season.
“I know the Spurs were there for multiple games in France in bulk to see what I’m doing on the court. But right now I have not met with anybody. I was just focusing on playing in the games because that’s a tough part of the season, maybe the most important. I guess my agent just talked to everybody he needed to talk to. But I was just focused on the game. I don’t know yet which team (will draft me) but I can’t wait to find out.”
Risacher added that he’s pleased to see all the hard work pay off while rising to the top of draft boards. Most analysts now believe he’ll be taken within the first three picks.
“That’s the reflection of my whole life of work,” Risacher said. “I’m a versatile player. I know I can do a lot of things. Whatever a coach wants me to do, I know I can do it. I showed it this year. And I know I can do more than I did this year. And I play tough. I don’t want to lose. I’m a winner. I feel like the toughness when you’re playing basketball is something important, too. So I can do a lot of things. I can be technical, but usually (I focus on) toughness and playing hard and competing with everybody.”
SPURS DRAFT PROFILE: The case for Zaccharie Risacher
Tidjane Salaun, 6-9, F, 18, Cholet Basket (France)
Salaun is another late riser who has drawn praise for his dogged play against pros. The 6-9 forward was named the FIBA Champions League’s best young player and averaged nine points, four rebounds, 1.4 3-pointers, 1.2 steals and one assist in 22.7 minutes as the league’s youngest rotation player.
The main knock against Salaun is that he’s still raw and lacking some fundamental skills, particularly on the offensive end. He’s been working to address those issues ahead of the draft and said he’d been in contact with the Spurs.
“I would like to improve on my dribble and to create more situations for me and for my teammates,” he said. “And (improve my) efficiency.”
While Salaun wasn’t asked about Wembanyama, he did respond to a question about one current French star he’s been inspired by.
“Rudy Gobert because he comes from Cholet Basket, the same club I play for,” Salaun said of the four-time NBA defensive player of the year. “So he was an inspiration. I saw him all this season in our gym on a poster. And every game, when we walk out I saw him (on a banner). And to see where his now is an inspiration for me.”
Nikola Topic, 6-6, G, 18, Crvena zvezda (Serbia)
Topic’s stock unfortunately took a hit this week when he was confirmed to have a partially torn ACL. According to ESPN, Topic will travel to the United States this week to be evaluated by NBA team doctors.
He’s still viewed as a lottery pick with future All-Star potential as an offensive initiator, though the injury could give some teams pause. On Tuesday, about 24 hours before news of his injury broke, Topic said he had not spoken with any Spurs’ front office members or scouts but had met with the team doctor.
SPURS DRAFT PROFILE: The case for Nikola Topic
“I have talked with their doctor, but nothing else,” Topic said. “If I go to Atlanta or to San Antonio or to Detroit, my approach is the same. And that is to be the best that I can be and to make everybody around me better.”
Hinting at the severity of the injury, Topic said he had been limited to rehab since re-injuring his knee in late April in Game 1 of the Adriatic League playoff finals.
“First of all, I’m working on my rehab with the knee injury,” Topic said. “That’s the main focus right now, to feel good with my knee, feel good with my body. After that I’ll work on basketball. I’ve been in the weight room. It’s not 100% healed. I haven’t started running or practicing with basketball. The focus is on my body, mainly.”
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JANUARY 2: Tarik Biberovic (13) and Jonathen Motley (0) of Fenerbahce Beko in action against Nikola Topic (C) of Kizilyildiz during Turkish Airlines Euroleague basketball match between Fenerbahce and Kizilyildiz at Ulker Sports and Events Hall in Istanbul, Turkiye on January 2, 2023. (Photo by Emrah Yorulmaz/Anadolu via Getty Images)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JANUARY 02: Nikola Topic, #44 of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in action during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 18 match between Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade at Ulker Sports Arena on January 02, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
A 6-9 forward, 19-year-old Zaccharie Risacher says he needs to work on his dribbling, but his 40.7% 3-point accuracy in three European seasons suggests his shooting is solid.
By Nick Moyle, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News