Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting with 8 rebounds and 3 blocks as France closed on a 20-4 run to beat Sweden 84-69.
Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting at Avicii Arena on Sunday. Sweden was ahead by one point with five minutes remaining, but France finished strong with a 20-4 run to win 84-69.
The San Antonio Spurs center contributed 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks in 30 minutes. He shot 5-of-6 inside the arc and made his only 3-point attempt. At the free-throw line, he made 5-of-8. His efficiency rating of 25 was the highest among all players.
The win was France's seventh in eight games of the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. France sits 7-1 in Group L.
After the opening quarter Sweden was in front 24-20. The score was even at 38-38 by halftime, and France went into the fourth up 55-54. The lead changed hands 15 times.
Pelle Larsson made 13-of-16 free throws and scored a game-high 23 points in 34 minutes. Ludde Hakanson added 16 points for Sweden.
Rudy Gobert, who captained France in July during matches against Belgium and Finland, did not appear in the game. According to CNews, the Minnesota center withdrew at the last minute.
Maxime Raynaud and Matthew Strazel each scored 13 for France. Jaylen Hoard, on 4-of-5 shooting, added 10, and Joël Ayayi finished with 7.
Three days earlier at Accor Arena in Paris, in his first official game for the national team since the 2024 Olympics, Wembanyama put up 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting with 9 rebounds and 1 block in 21 minutes. France beat Slovenia 92-67 that night.
Earlier in August, the French federation assigned Wembanyama the armband for the four games during this window.
According to him, he was caught off guard by the timing, only learning about it when France coach Frédéric Fauthoux informed him.
"Being captain is first and foremost about setting an example, being a leader, through performance on the court, knowing the systems, the opponents and bringing calm," Wembanyama said in comments distributed by FIBA.
In Paris two years ago, Wembanyama averaged 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. France lost the final to the United States.
Last season, Wembanyama played 64 games, averaging 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds. He led the NBA in blocks, receiving a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year vote. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team, finished third in MVP voting, and helped San Antonio post a 62-20 record before losing in the NBA Finals to New York in five games.
Before he reported to the national team, Wembanyama spent a second straight offseason working with Hakeem Olajuwon.
Three teams from each second-round group qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. Going into Sunday, FIBA's head-to-head records had France at 10-0 against Sweden.
