Spurs' Victor Wembanyama earns Gobert's raves 'special' matchup - ESPN

SAN ANTONIO — Following Friday night's game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, two very large countrymen stood at halfcourt of the Frost Bank Center.

The 31-year-old, 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert and the 19-year-old, 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama swapped jerseys and exchanged pleasantries before heading their separate ways.

The two natives of France went toe-to-toe throughout the night, but Gobert's Wolves got the better of Wembanyama's Spurs, winning 117-110 in the first in-season tournament game for both teams.

«It feels special,» Wembanyama said of his first professional encounter against Gobert, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. «I know every night there's going to be one or two guys who are special to play against. But even more, it's someone that over the years has tried to take care of me and teach me some stuff. It was even more special and challenging.»

Wembanyama, who carried Gobert's jersey with him to the podium following the game, finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks as the Spurs' comeback attempt came up short.

Three of those blocks came against Gobert — one in the first quarter and two in the fourth. According to ESPN Stats and Information research, it was only the eighth time in Gobert's career he was blocked by the same player at least three times in one game.

«I think his positioning is way ahead of the positioning of a rookie,» Gobert said. «You can tell that he is well coached and also that he is studying the game. That will only get better throughout the year. He's already affecting [shots], he's already getting in people's minds a bit defensively.

»He's going to be a real, real problem. He's already a problem, but I think he's going to be a