Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and performed one-on-one with followers on Saturday. He additionally missed a few video games.
Not in basketball, although.
Wemby was taking part in chess.
Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama made the plea on social media: “Who needs to fulfill me on the southwest nook of Washington Square Park to play chess? I’m there,” Wembanyama wrote.
It was 9:36. People began arriving nearly instantly.
Washington Square Park is a widely known location for chess in New York: Bobby Fischer, amongst others, performed there, and it has been a location used for quite a few film scenes that includes the sport.
Wembanyama was there for an hour within the rain, from about 10am to 11am. He performed 4 video games, successful two and shedding two earlier than leaving to affix Spurs.
Wembanyama had been looking for a spot to play chess for a lot of the staff’s time in New York: The Spurs performed the Knicks on Christmas and gained in Brooklyn on Friday evening. The schedule by no means aligned, till Saturday morning. And even in unhealthy climate, he did all the pieces he might to make it occur.
He posed for pictures with a pair dozen individuals who confirmed up, braving a chilly wet morning to play chess with one of many NBA’s largest stars.
“We want a chess match for NBA gamers solely, the proceeds will go to the charity of the winner’s selection,” he wrote on social media after his chess journey ended.
Wembanyama averaged 25.2 factors and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second within the NBA after successful Rookie of the Year honors final season.
Associated Press reporting.
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