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.

After the game, Chris Paul spoke about Wembanyama when he met with the media. Paul: "I can't imagine what it was like for Vic to come back home and play. I know he was so excited.

Frenchman Victor Wembanyama cannot prevent the San Antonio Spurs from suffering a resounding loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA in Paris.

Officially, Indiana will be the home team on the scoreboard when it plays San Antonio in Paris on Thursday. The Pacers know better.