NANTERRE (France) - It's home sweet home for Victor Wembanyama.
One of the world's most famous players, with three years of NBA experience under his belt and a burgeoning résumé, is just a few months removed from falling to the New York Knicks in the Finals.
He'll take aim at title glory against next season. For now, all of his attention is on making the most of his time in France.
That includes playing for the national team in European Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
One stop he's made has been Nanterre '92 Basket, where he spent eight years developing as a player. The club, immensely proud of Wembanyama, invited him to be a part of the inauguration of their renovated basketball court.
While there, he enjoyed the nostalgia that comes with being in a familiar place.
He was, in his own words, "fortunate" to be included in the festivities.
"Whenever I come back here, it does my heart so much good," he said.
The nation as a whole is glad that Wemby is back and ready to play for France for the first time since the Olympics, where he earned a spot in the All-Star Five after helping Les Bleus capture the silver medal.
When he was at the Paris Games, he was fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign in the NBA.
Now, he is the NBA All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year and a legitimate MVP contender.
Wembanyama made it to the final round of MVP voting this season and finished third in the voting behind the winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and runner-up Nikola Jokic.
The NBA, though, isn't at the front of his thoughts. He wants to make the most of his time while home.
"I don't miss the NBA right now, but I do miss FIBA basketball," he told the journalists at the Nanterre event.
"Sometimes it's difficult to maintain those connections with France every single day when you're away across the Atlantic for so many months," he said. "But coming back here, everything feels so easy because these are people I know and trust.
"Growing up in Nanterre and in France in general, I've been surrounded almost exclusively by good people."
In a few days, he will host the second edition of his basketball-and-chess tournament in Nanterre.
Wemby will then turn his attention to the national team.
The national team schedule includes two friendly games against Serbia, on August 20 and 23, followed by European Qualifiers games at home on August 27 against Slovenia and then on August 30 at Sweden.
Meanwhile, Wembanyama has signed a lucrative contract extension this summer. He has also been selected as the cover athlete for NBA 2K27.
The superstar will link up with the French national team at a training camp in August.
FIBA