Wemby After Serbia Loss: "I Feel a Bit Out of Shape"

Following France's 87-90 friendly loss to Serbia in front of a packed house in Belgrade, French star Victor Wembanyama commented on his current form.

The 22-year-old center faced off against one of the NBA's most formidable opponents in three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who tallied 20 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. In contrast, Wembanyama finished with just 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.

"I feel a bit out of shape. We're still trying to get into rhythm and find our game. We fought until the end, and I'm particularly happy about that. I don't know how it looked, but I don't think the game was rough. There was a lot of respect from both sides. One situation was a bit more aggressive, but besides that, there were no similar moments. Clean play from both sides," the Frenchman told reporters after the game.

When asked about the main difference between playing in the NBA and with national teams under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, Victor Wembanyama responded: "First and foremost, it's the ball we play with. There are many differences with the NBA, but that's one of the biggest."

The match was one of two preparatory games for France against Serbia before both nations participate in the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup. Wembanyama will lead the French squad against Slovenia next Thursday in Paris and then against Sweden three days later in Stockholm.