"I thought it was a prank": McIntyre on NBA news

The fanfare around number one NBA draft selection Victor Wembanyama at NBA Summer League was frantic. Everyone who had made the pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the tournament wanted to see the generational French big up close for the first time, but a pair of NBL coaches managed to see it all unfold up close and personal.

Sydney assistant Fleur McIntyre and Taipans head coach Adam Forde joined the San Antonio Spurs as guest coaches for Summer League – under former NBL MVP Matt Nielsen – to help improve their craft ahead of the upcoming season.

McIntyre says her connection through former Sydney coach Chase Buford and his father R.C. helped present her with the opportunity.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sydney Kings assistant and member of the San Antonio Spurs Summer League staff, Fleur McIntyre describes how Victor Wembanyama has handled the intense spotlight in Las Vegas.<br><br>&quot;He is such a lovely human being....he tries to connect with everyone, all he wants to do is engage..&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AUwQkwVoly">pic.twitter.com/AUwQkwVoly</a></p>&mdash; Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) <a href="https://twitter.com/KanePitman/status/1679006516282818560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I thought it was a prank,” McIntyre told ESPN of the opportunity. “I spoke to Matt Nielsen and he assured me it wasn’t.

“I feel very lucky that I’ve been in the orbit of the Sydney Kings and connected with Chase, R.C. and Nielsen to be part of the Spurs this summer.

“You can see why (the Spurs) are revered across world sports or their organisation. The biggest thing I’ve taken away is the people and the environment. The biggest takeaway is just the real sense of community, care and love for each other.

“You don’t always get that in the world of professional sports. I feel very lucky that I get to work for the Kings and I see a lot of similarities.”

Whether it be former league MVP Xavier Cooks, Larry Sengstock Trophy winner Derrick Walton Jr, or the returning Jaylen Adams, McIntyre has worked with a number of players at the Kings who inspire levels of chaotic fanfare – but nothing that compared to Wembanyama.

The French phenom is a close friend of former NBL Next Star Rayan Rupert, and after almost a full year of being touted as the top pick in the draft and as a generational talent, fans finally earned their first look at the 19-year-old.

He played two games for the Spurs before being pulled from competition, but he had already proven himself. A 27-point, 12, rebound, three block performance in a defeat to Rupert’s Trail Blazers showcased the sheer ability and potential he possesses.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark your calendars, the NBL Blitz schedule is here ? <a href="https://t.co/Skwfw2kVWz">pic.twitter.com/Skwfw2kVWz</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1682193357349715969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

McIntyre says she wasn’t just impressed with the player Wembanyama is, but also the person.

“He’s such a lovely human being. That’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed about him,” McIntyre said of the Spurs’ star recruit.

“He’s so graceful, he’s so friendly and tries to connect with everyone.

“All he wants to do is engage with his teammates and the staff and just be his best version every time he steps on the floor.

“He’s been such a wonderful person to be around and I feel lucky that not only was I there for his first and second game, but I think just being in his orbit you see what a great human being he is.”

McIntyre looks set to continue her assistant coaching role under new Kings head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah when Sydney’s NBL24 campaign gets underway on Saturday, September 30 against Illawarra.