Wembanyama's 1st Olympics ends in tears and a silver medal. But he put his stamp on the Paris Games

PARIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama's first Olympics ended with tears, not gold.

But he put the U.S. — and the rest of the international basketball community for that matter — on notice that he has arrived.

And he is only going to get better.

The French star finished with 26 points and seven rebounds in a 98-87 men's basketball gold-medal game loss to the U.S. on Saturday. It was the second straight Olympic silver for France, which also finished behind the U.S. in Tokyo in 2021.

It capped a dream run at the Paris Games for the 20-year-old, 7-foot-4 star who was the NBA's Rookie of the Year this season. But as he stood after leaving the medal ceremony, he said the experience has only inspired him get back.

“I'm going to enjoy the moment,” he said, clutching his silver medal. “I'm proud of my teammates. I'm proud of having what we've done here in France in front of our fans. I'm going to let it all soak in.”

Wembanyama wasn't shy about saying in the leadup to the Olympics that he hoped France would get a shot to play the U.S. in the medal round.

It arrived in front of a sold-out crowd inside a Bercy Arena adorned with France's blue-white-and-red flags. French basketball great Tony Parker, who starred and won four NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs team that Wembanyama now plays for, was in attendance.

Feeding off the energy of the host nation's fans, Wembanyama showed his full repertoire of skills opposite a loaded U.S. team full of the same stars who currently dominate the league he hopes to rise to the top of one day.

He finished at the rim, kept plays alive, hit 3-pointers and was a deterrent at times for U.S. shooters trying to score inside the paint.

He acknowledged that sharing the court with the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant with an Olympic gold at stake took his level up a notch as well.

“The final did,” Wembanyama said. “I always try to help my team in whatever is needed. And I'm ready to make any sacrifice. And tonight it was scoring. Through these games, if the defense was too focused on me, my teammates did a good job taking their responsibilities. ... They were incredible.”

Wembanyama got off to a quick start, scoring seven points in the first four minutes, including a highlight dunk after blowing past Joel Embiid at the top of the key.

“That kid is special,” Embiid said.

He had 20 points by the end of the third quarter, helping to carry the scoring load for France along with Guerschon Yabusele.

Wembanyama was on the bench getting a final rest in the fourth quarter when the U.S. took an 82-72 lead.

It was down to 82-74 when he returned with 4:15 play.

Following Nando de Colo's layup, Wembanyama came out to help Nicolas Batum double-team Curry and forced Curry to turn it over to Yabusele, who was fouled on the fast break. He made 1 of 2 free throws to make it 82-77.

Wembanyama then came through with a tip-in, before a 3-pointer by Curry and two free throws by Durant gave the U.S. an eight-point cushion with just over two minutes to play.

France tried to stay close the rest of the way, but a closing flurry by the U.S. that included four more 3s by Curry put away the game.

As the U.S. celebrated at midcourt, Wembanyama walked by himself, head down. After a few seconds, he began hugging teammates, tears in his eyes.

One by one the American players began to console him as the teams shook hands. Wembanyama then went to bench and put his head in a towel.

He said they were tears of determination. He's had a taste of playing against the world's best while representing his home country.

Wembanyama wants more. And he believes the experience of the last three weeks will travel with him for the rest of his career

“Nobody is going to take that from me," he said. "I'm learning and I'm worried for the opponents in a couple years.”

NBA and FIBA?

“Everywhere.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France and United States' Anthony Davis (14) battle under the basket during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France shoots during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France reacts during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

United States' Jayson Tatum (10) knocks the ball from Victor Wembanyama (32), of France during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Victor Wembanyama (32), of France celebrates after scoring a basket against United States during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Donald Trump's fourth scheduled stop in eight days in Wisconsin is a sign of his increased attention as Republicans fret about the former president's ability to match the Democrats' enthusiasm and turnout machine.

“In the political chatter class, they’re worried," said Brandon Scholz, a retired Republican strategist and longtime political observer in Wisconsin who voted for Trump in 2020 but said he is not voting for Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris this year. “I think Republicans are right to be concerned.”

Trump's latest rally was planned for 2 p.m. Central time Sunday in Juneau in Dodge County, which he won in 2020 with 65% of the vote. Jack Yuds, chairman of the county Republican Party, said support for Trump is stronger in his part of the state than it was in 2016 or 2020. “I can’t keep signs in,” Yuds said. “They want everything he’s got. If it says Trump on it, you can sell it.”

Wisconsin is perennially tight in presidential elections but has gone for the Republicans just once in the past 40 years, when Trump won the state in 2016. A win in November could make it impossible for Harris to take the White House.

Trump won in 2016 over Democrat Hillary Clinton by fewer than 23,000 votes and lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes.

On Tuesday, Trump made his first-ever visit to Dane County, home to the liberal capital city of Madison, in an effort to turn out the Republican vote even in the state's Democratic strongholds. Dane is Wisconsin’s second most-populous and fastest-growing county; Biden received more than 75% of the vote four years ago.

“To win statewide you’ve got to have a 72-county strategy,” former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, said at that event.

Trump’s campaign and outside groups supporting his candidacy have outspent Harris and her allies on advertising in Wisconsin, $35 million to $31 million, since she became a candidate on July 23, according to the media-tracking firm AdImpact.

Harris and outside groups supporting her candidacy had more advertising time reserved in Wisconsin from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5, more than $25 million compared with $20 million for Trump and his allies.

The Harris campaign has 50 offices across 43 counties with more than 250 staff in Wisconsin, said her spokesperson Timothy White. The Trump campaign said it has 40 offices in the state and dozens of staff.

Harris rallied supporters in Madison in September at an even that drew more than 10,000 people. On Thursday, she made an appeal to moderate and disgruntled conservatives by holding an event in Ripon, the birthplace of the Republican Party, along with former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, one of Trump’s most prominent Republican antagonists.

Harris and Trump are focusing on Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the “blue wall” states that went for Trump in 2016 and flipped to Biden in the next election.

While Trump’s campaign is bullish on its chances in Pennsylvania as well as Sunbelt states, Wisconsin is seen as more of a challenge.

“Wisconsin, tough state,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita, who worked on Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s winning reelection campaign in 2022.

“I mean, look, that’s going to be a very tight — very, very tight, all the way to the end. But where we are organizationally now, comparative to where we were organizationally four years ago, I mean, it’s completely different,” LaCivita said.

He also cited Michigan as more of a challenge. “But again, these are states that Biden won and carried and so they’re going to be brawls all the way until the end and we’re not ceding any of that ground.”

The candidates are about even in Wisconsin, based on a series of polls that have shown little movement since Biden dropped out in late July. Those same polls also show high enthusiasm among both parties.

Mark Graul, who ran then-President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign in Wisconsin, said the number of campaign visits speaks to Wisconsin’s decisive election role.

The key for both sides, he said, is persuading infrequent voters to turn out.

“Much more important, in my opinion, than rallies,” Graul said.

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, and Jill Colvin in Butler, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event at Dane Manufacturing, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Waunakee, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at Dane Manufacturing, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Waunakee, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign event Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)