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Standing at 7 feet 4 inches with a wingspan of approximately 8 feet and a standing reach of 10 feet while weighing 210 lb. (95 kg), Victor Wembanyama is the sort of basketball player you don't see often. He is built for the beautiful sport of Basketball so well even professional basketball players seem to be in awe of his features as a human and his skill set as a basketball player of his height. But where did all begin and what was his journey and pathway to being tagged "The Biggest Prospect since LeBron James"?
Wembanyama was born on 4 January, 2004 in Le Chesnay, in the Paris region, France. He was born into a sports family, having a father who was a track and field athlete who competed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. His Mother, Élodie de Fautereau, is a basketball coach and former player. Wembanyama's father and mother are 1.98 meters (6 ft 6 in) and 1.91 meters (6 ft 3 in) tall, respectively. His Older Sister and younger brother both play basketball with his brother playing volleyball as well. Nicknamed Wemby, he first started off as a goalkeeper playing football before learning to play basketball from his mother who was the coach of a youth team. This helped him nurture his talent and improve his skill as a basketball player through proper and precise coaching.
At age seven, Wembanyama began playing for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles, before joining the youth system of Nanterre 92 at age 10. In 2018, he had a loan spell with Barcelona but then declined to sign further with them citing that the coaches in the team were not challenging him enough. Wembanyama gained his first professional experience with the Nanterre 92 senior team in France playing from 2019-2021. In the 2021-2022, he signed a three-year contract with ASVEL of the Pro A and the EuroLeague. By the start of the 2022-2023 season, Wemby signed two-year contract with Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A. He won multiple awards and personal accolades during his time in France and even got the recognition of the American Media.
Over the course of his professional career in France, the American Media and the world were exposed to the amazing displays and breathtaking performances by the young Frenchman. There were no doubts about him making it to the NBA, the only question was which team was going to be drafting this rare gem. As the media and sports journalist are fond on doing, several outlets and individuals started analyzing and talking about him as the number one pick should he and when he eventually declared for the NBA Draft. Some journalist and media outlets even took the bold step of tagging him “The Biggest NBA Prospect since LeBron James”, and rightfully so. He was different in every way to the regular draft prospect having not only had multiple professional season under his belt but also performing at a very high and MVP level throughout his professional career.
On 22 June 2023, Wembanyama was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He became the first French player to be drafted first overall and the third #1 overall pick by San Antonio in its history, after David Robinson and Tim Duncan, with the latter pair ending their respective careers as Spurs Legend. It was a very special moment for not only the player but for fans around the world who could finally get to see this Phenom play amongst the world’s best player in the biggest basketball league in the world. Aside the fact that he was already being compared to rookie LeBron, being the first pick for a franchise of San Antonio’s history, a lot was naturally to be expected from him. David Robinson (nicknamed The Admiral) who was a very dominant center at the offensive and defensive ends in an era that had the likes of Shaquille O’neal, Hakeem Olajuwan, Julius Ewing and Karl Malone) and Tim Duncan (nicknamed The Big Fundamental) who is arguably the greatest Power Forward of all time both had stellar careers and notably won MVP titles and Championships so he naturally had big shoes to fill coming into the Spurs franchise.
Thus far, as at the time of this writing, Wemby leads the league in blocks per game (3.2) and only second to Brook Lopez in total blocks (115) this season while being on minute’s restriction.
He is currently top of the NBA Kia Rookie Ladder and the leader in points per game (19.9) and rebounds per game (10.1) and joint first in steals per game (1.1). For context, LeBron James in his rookie year averaged 20.9 points per game. His shooting splits are quite impressive as well. He is shooting 48% from the field, 29% percent from three point range and 79% from free throws. One might look at his shooting from range and what to pick on it but Kevin Durant who is arguably the best shooter amongst NBA bigs in its entire history average similar percentage from beyond the arc. Wemby is currently averaging double-double whilst still raking up numbers in assist, blocks, steals, deflections and dunks. At this point, it is safe to say that he is living up to the billing while dropping breathtaking performances week in week out on minute’s restriction. The trademark Spurs move of a lob towards the basket with Wemby at the rim has been so entertaining to watch and there is definitely more of that particular play to come as he continues to play in the league.
Currently, the San Antonio Spurs as a team have been below par and there is a lot to be done for the franchise to get back to winning ways but it is very evident that drafting Wemby was definitely a step in the winning direction. A couple trades (like the one rumored involving Trae Young to the Spurs) and the strategic nurturing of the young talents in the team can lead the Spurs in the right trajectory. As for Wemby, the potential to go down as one of the greatest of all time in the history of basketball is very much present and with the right attitude (which he certainly has) and proper coaching, he can achieve that status. Statements like “Every game is a statement” and “Traumatizing sometimes is the Goal” further emphasizes his elite mentality and his dedication to becoming the best he can become. He is a big who has the handles of a point guard and the explosiveness of a shooting guard with the strength of a forward, he really has what it takes to make it big in the NBA. The big question on everyone’s lips still remains ‘will he live up to the hype’ – we just have to keep on watching and see how it pans out for him.
