The Emirates NBA Cup is about to crown its third champion. The final of this third edition of the competition will pit the New York Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs in a single game this Tuesday (8:30 PM ET, 1:30 AM Senegal time), after two semi-finals that set the stage for this East vs. West showdown.

For the Spurs, all eyes are on the French Alien, Victor Wembanyama. Having missed 12 games due to a left calf strain, the French prodigy has made a resounding return.

Despite a minutes restriction, Wemby was the catalyst for the Spurs' 111-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending the defending champions' impressive 16-game winning streak.

Wembanyama finished the game with 22 points and 9 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. The Las Vegas crowd even cheered him on with chants of "MVP".

On the other side, the Knicks triumphed over the Orlando Magic 132-120. Led by an incandescent Jalen Brunson (40 points and 8 assists), New York secured its place in the final thanks also to the crucial support of Karl-Anthony Towns (29 points).

The fact that this final is a single game reinforces the intensity of this confrontation between Mike Brown's well-oiled machine and the sudden emergence of the young Spurs.

In this context of success for the Knicks, a shadow hangs over the playing time of one of the French players in the franchise, Guerschon Yabusele.

Having arrived with clear ambitions, the captain of Les Bleus is experiencing a difficult start to the season, confined to a very limited role coming off the bench, with an average of minutes that fluctuates and is far from his expectations.

Yabusele himself acknowledged the frustration of this situation: "Of course it's difficult. I can't lie about that," he confessed.

However, in the Knicks' locker room, the support is total. Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the team's leaders, made a point of reassuring his teammate in a press conference:

“In this locker room, no one doubts what Guerschon can bring to the table. So, I continue to give him the same advice: 'Every day be professional, work on your game, be as incisive as possible, and when you are called upon, make your mark on the match.'”

This message of patience and high expectations from Towns underscores the importance of the French center's role, even off the court. As the Finals approach, Yabusele remains hopeful that his professionalism and preparation will open a window for him to be a key contributor for the Knicks.

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