The story, as Buford tells it, goes like this: Claudio Crippa, an international scout for the Spurs, proposed going to see a youth game before checking out Doumbouya. Buford saw Wembanyama play for the first time that day. And the seeds for the Spurs’ new master plan were immediately planted.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 16 of his 28 points in a dazzling 2½ minute display late in the third quarter as the Pacers downed Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs 136-98 in the NBA Paris Games finale.