Victor Wembanyama, who was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France, is widely regarded as the most gifted prospect since LeBron James in 2003 and a lock for the No. 1 pick. Because of his rare combination of size, shooting ability, and ball-handling ability, the teenager has inspired “Wembymania” in his home country.
1. Victor Wembanyama comes from a family of athletes and basketball players
Given his family history, Wembanyama’s athletic ability is not surprising. According to CNN, his father, Félix Wembanyama, was a high jumper, and his mother, Elodie de Fautereau, is a former basketball player and current coach. His grandpa, Michel de Fautereau, was a basketball player for the Paris University Club in France’s top flight.
Victor tried judo and football as a kid, but he probably made the right choice by sticking with basketball.
2. He is already fluent in English
Wembanyama, unlike many international sportsmen who travel to the United States to play professional sports, will not have a language barrier. He taught himself English in his early adolescence since he knew he wanted to play in the NBA and thought it was the language of “basketball people.”He learnt through watching English-language television series, according to the Associated Press.
3. A mistake led to his discovery
Wembanyama was discovered while playing for an U11 squad in Versailles, France, according to Olympics.com. Michael Allard, a coach for the French professional team Nanterre 92, was at the game and was drawn to a man on the bench with a long frame. Allard was astonished to realize he was observing Wembanyama while assuming the individual was an assistant coach. Wembanyama made his professional debut with Nanterre in the 2019 EuroCup after Allard and the club lost no time in recruiting him for their youth program.
4. He dominated his French league
Wembanyama played for Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A, France’s top-tier basketball league. Although the league’s total talent level does not comparable to that of the NBA, Wembanyama’s dominance over his competitors is an encouraging indicator.
Wembanyama topped the league in points, rebounds, and blocks as a teenager this season, according to Zach Kram of The Ringer, until May 16. It’s even more impressive given that he missed three months of last season due to a knee injury, meaning he participated in less than half of his 66 probable Pro A and EuroLeague games.
5. He’ll immediately be one of the NBA’s tallest players
According to Metropolitans 92, Wembanyama stands 7 feet 4 inches tall and has the potential to grow even taller. Even without another growth spurt, Wembanyama has the same height as Houston Rockets big man Boban Marjanovi, who is now the NBA’s tallest player.
However, Wembanyama weighs just 230 pounds, which is 60 pounds less than Marjanovi. According to The Sporting News, the 19-year-old’s more realistic similarities might be Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (7-foot-3, 240 pounds) and Sacramento Kings star Damontas Sabonis (7-foot-1, 240 pounds).
6. Victor Wembanyama has outstanding qualities for a player of his size
Victor Wembanyama possesses physical characteristics that are rare for a player of his stature. Despite his enormous stature, the young Frenchman is extremely light, weighing only 95 kg (210 lbs). This provides him the mobility, explosiveness, and dexterity of a playmaker rather than a center. It is partly what drew his coaches’ attention at an early age and has garnered him the admiration of the basketball world.
7. Wembanyama has an artistic streak
Wembanyama, in addition to his basketball abilities, may be a Renaissance man in the making. “I feel like I’m an artist on and off the court,” Wembanyama remarked in an ESPN2 interview in August 2022. “I enjoy thinking about a variety of topics and working on an art creation… I enjoy drawing. I enjoy putting together Lego sets. It’s fantastic. “I enjoy writing.” Wembanyama also stated that he enjoys classical music.
8. LeBron James thinks he’s the real deal
If anyone knows how Wembanyama’s game might transfer in the NBA, it’s four-time league MVP LeBron James, who was likewise considered (and has shown to be) a generational talent when drafted out of high school 20 years ago.
In an interview in October 2022, the 38-year-old James indicated that Wembanyama’s skill set is, well, out of this world. “Everybody has been a unicorn for the last two years, but he’s more like an alien,” James said to ESPN. “I’ve never seen—no one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is, but as fluid and graceful out on the floor.”
Wembanyama said it was an honor to receive such praise from James but quickly brushed the comments aside. “I didn’t do anything yet,” he said.
9. Victor Wembanyama holds the record for most counters in a World Cup
Despite his young age, Wemby is quickly accumulating up stats and setting records. Victor averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in the Under 19 World Cup. These amazing statistics aided the French team’s silver medal win. No one has ever averaged as many blocks as Victor Wembanyama did throughout this event in any international competition.
10. Victor Wembanyama was given the nickname “Wemby” by the NBA itself
Finding nicknames for their favorite player is something that basketball fans like more than anything else. Victor Wembanyama was dubbed “The Unicorn” and “The Alien” throughout his early career. However, none of them were able to persuade the primary interested party.
None, until the NBA account dubbed him “Wemby” in an Instagram post during a tour in Las Vegas.