Top Toronto Maple Leaf Prospects -

Last update images today Top Toronto Maple Leaf Prospects

top toronto maple leaf prospects        <h3 class=Happ Slugs Pair Of 3-run Homers As Cubs Pound Phillies 10-2

PARIS -- Victor Wembanyama stole the show with spectacular one-handed dunks as France opened preparations for its men's basketball gold medal bid at the Paris Olympics.

In a promising sign of things to come, the NBA Rookie of the Year was all smiles after powerful dunks with both hands in a 96-46 rout of Turkey on Wednesday night. He looked slick as he scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed six rebounds in front of a sold-out crowd of around 5,500 in Rouen.

It was the first of six warmup matches for France heading into the July 26-Aug. 11 Games.

"Victor played a 'Wemby game.' He was imposing in defense and varied things in attack. It's something we've never really known before in the France team," captain Nicolas Batum said. "It's a great asset for us, one we will be able to use in many situations."

The 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs star combined well with veteran Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in their first outing together for France. The 32-year-old Gobert was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a record-tying fourth time, with Wembanyama second in the voting.

"There's still work to be done," Batum said, looking ahead to the Olympics. "But when you have two greats [Wembanyama and Gobert], it helps a lot."

There was also some impressive defense from Washington Wizards rookie guard Bilal Coulibaly.

France lost 87-82 to the United States in the gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics, but hopes are high that coach Vincent Collet's side can win gold at home. France is considered among the strongest teams alongside the U.S, Canada, Serbia and world champion Germany.

Last week, Wembanyama was asked about the prospect of another France-U.S. final, against the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

"I can't wait to face them. It will be a very interesting matchup," Wembanyama said in Paris. "As a basketball player, it's also a dream to play against Team USA and even against all those players, all those legends."

France's first Group B opponent at the Olympics will be the winner of the last qualifying tournament later this week. It then plays Japan and Germany in the 12-team field, held in the northern city of Lille.

French basketball is enjoying immense popularity on the back of Wembanyama's meteoric rise and the emergence of new talents.

This year's top two NBA draft picks are French -- Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) and Alexandre Sarr (Wizards) -- with Tidjane Salaun drafted No. 6 by the Charlotte Hornets.

France joined the United States as the only countries with three players drafted in the top 10 picks of an NBA draft. Pacome Dadiet (New York Knicks) and Melvin Ajinca (Dallas Mavericks) made it five Frenchmen selected overall.

Maple Leafs 051722 ?itok=HUPMLge8
Maple Leafs 051722 ?itok=HUPMLge8
Joseph Woll Maple Leafs 1536x1126
Joseph Woll Maple Leafs 1536x1126
1178413663
1178413663
Dennis Hildeby Maple Leafs Scaled
Dennis Hildeby Maple Leafs Scaled
Noah Gregor Maple Leafs Scaled
Noah Gregor Maple Leafs Scaled
1060603608
1060603608
1264591638
1264591638
USATSI 10567993
USATSI 10567993
1088476782
1088476782
1195442923
1195442923
Leafs Prospects 17 Lwoh
Leafs Prospects 17 Lwoh
14511760
14511760
875098912
875098912
Leafs
Leafs
Auston Matthews Maple Leafs 1536x1024
Auston Matthews Maple Leafs 1536x1024
932029648 Laval Rocket V Toronto Marlies
932029648 Laval Rocket V Toronto Marlies
USATSI 20552742 1024x717
USATSI 20552742 1024x717
HD   Mitchell Marner Hockey Players Toronto Maple Leafs Nhl Hockey Hockey Stars Marner Neon Lights Usa
HD Mitchell Marner Hockey Players Toronto Maple Leafs Nhl Hockey Hockey Stars Marner Neon Lights Usa
Joseph Woll Maple Leafs 575x431
Joseph Woll Maple Leafs 575x431
960671222
960671222
845371652
845371652
Hkn Red Wings Maple Leafs 20231005
Hkn Red Wings Maple Leafs 20231005
Wp9055933
Wp9055933
1084428530
1084428530
Dor9b92BymqGysyAAYwTTRsLsvPwMt68DQ S0VLGGkw ?auto=webp&s=cb4a23c6352e704b593bcb4448a32ae92c7b11d2
Dor9b92BymqGysyAAYwTTRsLsvPwMt68DQ S0VLGGkw ?auto=webp&s=cb4a23c6352e704b593bcb4448a32ae92c7b11d2
Wayne Simmonds Maple Leafs
Wayne Simmonds Maple Leafs
857669558
857669558
1239555349
1239555349
Maple Leafs Celebrations In Toronto Right Two Mounted Police Officers Riding Horse ?id=33574409&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C72%2C0%2C0
Maple Leafs Celebrations In Toronto Right Two Mounted Police Officers Riding Horse ?id=33574409&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C72%2C0%2C0
Nick Robertson Maple Leafs Scaled
Nick Robertson Maple Leafs Scaled
1048501702
1048501702
1157656552
1157656552
Hi Res 7803406 Crop Exact ?w=1200&h=1200&q=75
Hi Res 7803406 Crop Exact ?w=1200&h=1200&q=75