“I can get so much better, and this is what I am trying to do every game, every week, and every month,” Victor Wembanyama‘s motto keeps him going. Since he stepped into the NBA, the hooper has been making waves, capturing attention with every game, even clinching the ROTY! As his value rises, fans are increasingly curious about one aspect. Questions swirl about his ethnicity and cultural roots. What shaped the remarkable hooper? Delving into Wemby’s heritage reveals insights that enrich his already captivating story.

Victor Wembanyama’s star family and their roots

Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004 in Le Chesnay, France. So, his nationality is French. But did you know he is of mixed ethnicity? Yes, his father Felix is of Congolese descent. While his mother Elodie de Fautereau was born and raised in France but is of Caucasian heritage. Thus, making Wemby’s ethnicity biracial with European-African ancestry.

The next obvious question would be, what did his parents do? Well, Victor Wembanyama comes from a family full of stars! His father was a track and field star who was successful in the high jump. Félix taught his kids how to run, and because of this, Wemby also started following his father’s sport. “You know, there’s a correct way of running. And he taught me things like that,” the hooper once said. “And actually, I was part of a track and field team, like for a year around 10 or 11.” Then how did he move into basketball?

Victor Wembanyama gets it from his mother. She was a professional hooper, who introduced the sport to her kids. “I mean, I had the choice and I still have the choice to play or not play basketball, but basketball has always been around. I can’t avoid it in my family,” the Spurs star once said.

Now that you know his parents, let’s get to know his siblings. Victor has 2 siblings. His sister Eve is the oldest, his brother Oscar is the youngest, thus, making Wemby the middle child. Just like their parents, all the Wembanyama kids are athletes too!

Eve, with an impressive height of 6’1 plays basketball. She played for LDLC ASVEL of Lyon, France, for EuroLeague Women. She also competed in the FIBA U20 Women’s European Challengers competition in 2021 and the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship in 2017. This was an inspiration for Oscar to choose basketball.

“My sister and brother were both French champions, and that was my goal from the start of the season, even though I was just starting basketball,” Oscar said. He wasn’t always a hooper. He initially played handball and switched to basketball during COVID-19. It happened as a result of watching more basketball and following Jason Williams, which made him follow the sport seriously.

Because of this, he joined Victor Wembanyama’s former club, Nanterre 92, in 2021 and won the French U15 title! Now as we know, his family, Wemby, apart from his NBA jewels, has always been a Team France star.

Wembanyama- France basketball’s next big thing

“It’s part of a dream come true. A big part of a goal we set for ourselves months back. It’s a chance to write history even more. It’s defensively a once-in-a-lifetime dream. Nobody can produce that, and now we get our chance.” Wembanyama said, after representing France in the Olympics.

The hooper’s journey to Olympic glory is nothing short of remarkable. His potential was undeniable from the moment he stepped onto the international stage. France entered the tournament with high expectations, filled with anticipation.

The Spurs star wore his heart on his sleeve and played with intensity. In the final game against Team USA, blood on his jersey symbolized the sacrifices he made. His contributions were pivotal, as he scored 26 points and 7 rebounds, making 11-of-19 shots from the field, including 3 three-pointers. His versatility and poise shone through, and his presence on the court inspired his teammates.

However, the hooper, draped in his silver medal, expressed his determination for the future. “I’m learning, and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years,” he said confidently. When asked if he meant NBA or FIBA rivals, he replied, everywhere. With his impressive performance at just 20, he’s poised to lead France in a potential rematch against Team USA at the LA 2028 Games!

Reflecting on the journey, Victor Wembanyama expressed pride in representing France, saying, “This jersey brings a different energy.” As he celebrates this achievement, the question remains: how will the youngster’s experiences shape his future with France?