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)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of California board of regents approved Thursday additional non-lethal weapons requested by UCLA police, which handled some of the nation's largest student protests against the Israel-Hamas war.

Clashes between protesters and counterprotesters earlier this year on the campus led to more than a dozen injuries, and more than 200 people were arrested at a demonstration the next day.

The equipment UCLA police requested and the board approved included pepper balls and sponge rounds, projectile launchers and new drones. The board also signed off on equipment purchase requests for the nine other police departments on UC campuses.

Student protesters at the regents meeting were cleared from the room after yelling broke out when the agenda item was presented.

Faculty and students have criticized UCLA police for their use of non-lethal weapons in campus demonstrations, during which some protesters suffered injuries.

During public comment, UCLA student association representative Tommy Contreras said the equipment was used against peaceful protesters and demonstrators.

“I am outraged that the University of California is prioritizing funding for military equipment while slashing resources for education,” Contreras said. “Students, staff and faculty have been hurt by this very equipment used not for safety but to suppress voices.”

California law enforcement agencies are required by state law to submit an annual report on the acquisition and use of weapons characterized as “military equipment.” A UC spokesperson called it a “routine” agenda item not related to any particular incidents.

“The University’s use of this equipment provides UC police officers with non-lethal alternatives to standard-issue firearms, enabling them to de-escalate situations and respond without the use of deadly force,” spokesperson Stett Holbrook said.

Many of the requests are replacements for training equipment, and the drones are for assisting with search and rescue missions, according to Holbrook. The equipment is “not military surplus, nor is it military-grade or designed for military use," Holbrook said.

UCLA police are requesting 3,000 more pepper balls to add to their inventory of 1,600; 400 more sponge and foam rounds to their inventory of 200; eight more “less lethal” projectile launchers; and three new drones.

The report to the regents said there were no complaints or violations of policy found related to the use of the military equipment in 2023.

History professor Robin D.G. Kelley said he spent an evening with a student in the emergency room after the student was shot in the chest during a June 11 demonstration.

“The trauma center was so concerned about the condition of his heart that they kept him overnight to the next afternoon after running two echocardiograms,” Kelley said the day after the student was injured. “The student was very traumatized.”

UC's systemwide director of community safety Jody Stiger told the board the weapons were not to be used for crowd control or peaceful protests but “life-threatening circumstances” or violent protests where “campus leadership have deemed the need for law enforcement to utilize force to defend themselves or others.”

FILE - Police advance on demonstrators on the UCLA campus May 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)

FILE - Police stage on the UCLA campus after nighttime clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)