Victor Wembanyama is a name that basketball fans should get familiar with. The 19-year-old Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the best prospects in the history of the sport, and he has already shown his immense potential in the NBA preseason.
Wembanyama, who was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft, is a rare combination of size, skill, and athleticism that has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest players ever, such as Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Birthday & Biography
Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France. His parents, Félix and Elodie, were both athletes in their own right. Félix was a track and field competitor who specialized in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Elodie was a basketball player and coach who introduced Victor to the game at a young age. Victor also has an older sister, Eve, and a younger brother, Oscar, who both play basketball.
Height, Weight & Physical Appearance
Victor Wembanyama is a towering figure on the basketball court, as he stands at 7 feet 4 inches tall, which is equivalent to 2.24 meters. He has an 8-foot wingspan, which is longer than most NBA players. He weighs 210 pounds, or 95 kilograms, which is relatively light for his height. He has a slim and athletic build, with long arms and legs. He has dark brown skin, black hair, and brown eyes.
He usually wears a short afro hairstyle and a beard. He has a tattoo of a lion on his left arm, which represents the zodiac sign of Leo. He also has a tattoo of the word “family” on his right arm, which shows his love and appreciation for his parents and siblings.
He wears the number 1 jersey for the San Antonio Spurs, which is the same number he wore for his previous teams in France. He likes to wear colorful sneakers and accessories on the court, such as headbands, wristbands, and earrings. He has a confident and charismatic personality, and he often smiles and celebrates with his teammates and fans. He is also humble and respectful of his opponents and coaches, and he always strives to improve his game.
Family, Parents & Siblings
His father is Félix Wembanyama, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a former track and field athlete who competed in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. He is 6 feet 6 inches tall and taught Victor how to run and jump properly. He also instilled in him a passion for learning and being a technician of sports.
His mother is Elodie de Fautereau, who was born in France. She is a former basketball player and coach who introduced Victor to the game when he was young. She played professionally in France and also coached youth teams. She is 6 feet 3 inches tall and shares a lot of physical and personality traits with Victor. She is also kind of eccentric sometimes.
His older sister is Eve Wembanyama, who is 21 years old. She is also a basketball player who plays in the Ligue Feminine 2 De Basketball, the second most prominent league in France. She is 6 feet 1 inch tall and plays as a forward. She has been supportive of Victor’s career and often posts pictures of him on her Instagram account.
His younger brother is Oscar Wembanyama, who is 15 years old. He is also a basketball player who plays for the same club that Victor started with, Entente Le Chesnay Versailles. He is already 6 feet 5 inches tall and plays as a guard. He used to play handball as well but switched to basketball after seeing his brother’s success. He has a lot of potential and could follow his brother’s footsteps to the NBA.
Early Career
Wembanyama started playing basketball for a local club called Entente Le Chesnay Versailles when he was seven years old. He soon caught the attention of Nanterre 92, a professional team in the French top division, LNB Pro A. He joined their youth system when he was 10 years old and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his professional debut in 2019, at the age of 15, in the EuroCup, a continental competition for European clubs.
Wembanyama continued to develop his game with Nanterre 92 until 2021 when he moved to ASVEL, another French team that also competes in the EuroLeague, the highest level of European club basketball. He won the LNB Pro A championship with ASVEL in his only season with them.
In 2022, he signed with Metropolitans 92, a rival team of Nanterre 92. He had a breakout season with Metropolitans 92, leading the league in points (23.7), rebounds (11.4), and blocks (4.6) per game. He also became the youngest player ever to win the LNB Pro A MVP award and the LNB Pro A Best Defender award.
NBA Draft and Preseason
Wembanyama declared for the 2023 NBA draft after his stellar season with Metropolitans 92. He was widely projected to be the first pick in the draft, as he had impressed scouts and analysts with his unique skill set for his size. He stands at 7 feet 4 inches tall and has an 8-foot wingspan. He can play multiple positions on both ends of the floor, as he can handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter, pass with vision, and protect the rim as few others can.
On June 23, 2023, Wembanyama’s dream came true when he was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs. He became the second French player ever to be drafted first overall, after Tony Parker in 2001. He also became the first player born in the 2000s to be drafted first overall.
Wembanyama signed a four-year contract worth $55 million with the Spurs shortly after being drafted. He then joined the Spurs’ summer league team to prepare for his rookie season. He made his summer league debut on July 7 against the Orlando Magic and had a solid performance with nine points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in 19 minutes of action.
However, it was his second summer league game that really made NBA fans take notice of him. On July 9 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wembanyama had a monster game with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field (including four three-pointers), 12 rebounds (five offensive), three blocks (one on a dunk attempt by Greg Brown III), two assists, and two steals in 28 minutes of action. He showed off his full arsenal of skills on both ends of the floor and dominated his opponents with ease.
Wembanyama continued to impress throughout the summer league with his consistent production and highlight plays. He averaged 18 points on 54% shooting from the field (including 42% from three-point range), nine rebounds (four offensive), four blocks (leading all players), three assists, and two steals per game in six games (all starts). He was named to the All-Summer League First Team along with Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic, and Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks.
The Rise of Victor Wembanyama: How the 7-Foot-4 French Phenom Is Dominating the NBA
Victor Wembanyama is a name that every NBA fan should know by now. The 19-year-old French center, who was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft, has been dazzling the league with his unprecedented combination of size, skill, athleticism, and versatility. In just his second preseason game, Wembanyama put on a show that left everyone speechless, as he scored 23 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked four shots, and made three 3-pointers in a 120-104 win over the Miami Heat.
He also displayed his incredible defensive instincts, switching seamlessly from guarding the perimeter to protecting the rim, and his offensive repertoire, ranging from post moves to dribble drives to pull-up jumpers. Wembanyama’s performance was so impressive that it earned him comparisons to some of the greatest big men in NBA history, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kevin Garnett.
Personal Life
Wembanyama is currently single and focused on his basketball career. He lives in San Antonio with his family, who moved with him from France to support him in his transition to the NBA. He is fluent in both French and English and is learning Spanish as well.
Wembanyama is a humble and hard-working young man who has a passion for the game of basketball. He is also a role model for many aspiring basketball players around the world, especially in France, where he has inspired a new generation of talent. He has a bright future ahead of him in the NBA and beyond, as he aims to become one of the best players ever to play the game.
Social Media
Wembanyama is active on social media, where he has a large and growing fan base. He has over 1.5 million followers on Instagram (@wemby) and over 500,000 followers on Twitter (@Wembanyama_Fr). He posts regularly about his basketball journey, his personal life, and his interests. He also interacts with his fans and other NBA players on his platforms.
Wiki, BIO
Name | Victor Wembanyama |
Date of Birth | January 4, 2004 |
Place of Birth | Le Chesnay, France |
Height | 7 feet 4 inches |
Weight | 210 pounds |
Position | Power Forward / Center |
NBA Team | San Antonio Spurs |
NBA Draft | 2023, first overall pick |
NBA Contract | Four years, $55 million |
NBA Number | #1 |
Previous Teams | Nanterre 92, ASVEL, Metropolitans 92 (France) |
Nationality | French |
Parents | Félix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau |
Siblings | Eve Wembanyama and Oscar Wembanyama |
Girlfriend | None |
Net Worth | Estimated at $10 million |
@wemby | |
@Wembanyama_Fr | |
Wikipedia | Victor_Wembanyama |
Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career Highlights and Awards
- LNB Pro A champion (2022)
- LNB Pro A MVP (2023)
- LNB Pro A Best Defender (2023)
- All-LNB Pro A First Team (2023)
- LNB All-Star Game MVP (2022)
- Two-time LNB All-Star (2021, 2022)
- Three-time LNB Pro A Best Young Player (2021–2023)
- FIBA Under-19 World Cup silver medalist (2021)
- FIBA U16 European Championship silver medalist (2019)
- All-Summer League First Team (2023)
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