Victor Wembanyama 2024: Early Life, French Career, NBA Success, Playing Style, and Off-Court Influence of the Spurs' Rising Star

Victor Wembanyama entered into the NBA like no other player ever. His towering 7'4" frame quickly set the young prodigy apart. Nicknamed 'Wemby' or 'the Alien', he is known for becoming a generational talent, showcasing unprecedented skills for his height. Before his NBA debut, Wembanyama had a strong inkling about being destined for the NBA. Apart from living up to the enormous hype around him, he actively pursued endorsement deals with various companies, increasing his net worth at an early age.

After being selected number 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama inked a substantial four-year contract with the franchise. His deal amounts to a whopping $55,174,766, which includes a guaranteed sum of $24,929,640. The French player can pass the ball easily, shoot 3s like some top guards, and even dribble like point guards. At this pace, the once-in-a-lifetime package might become the greatest player in NBA history.

Victor Wembanyama's Early Life and Family Background

Victor Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France. Known to make waves in the NBA, Wembanyama's journey to basketball was not straightforward. He once found interest in soccer, mostly guarding the goalposts as a goalkeeper. Furthermore, he also delved into the world of judo. However, through nurturing by his mother, Wembanyama found his calling. However, his parents were also involved in sports. His father, Felix, is of Congolese origin and competed in track and field events as an athlete. Wemby's agility comes from his father, who took part in the high, long, and triple jumps. After being born in Belgium, Felix attained French citizenship by naturalization on 10th February 2003. 

Meanwhile, his mother, Élodie de Fautereau, was a former player and a French basketball coach. Similar to Wemby's height, his father and mother stood at 1.98 (6 ft 6 in) and 1.91 meters (6 ft 3 in) respectively. We know why he is tall now. His elder sister Eve plays basketball too, followed by his young brother, Oscar, who plays basketball and handball at the youth level. His grandfather, Michel de Fautereau, was a professional basketball player, and his grandmother, Marie-Christine, also participated in the sport. 

Youth and Early Training

Victor began his basketball journey with Entente Le Chesnay Versailles at age 7. He then joined Nanterre 92's youth system at 10 and stood at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters), making him easily noticeable by scouts. Fast forward to 2018, Wembanyama made a brief leap for FC Barcelona for the Minicopa del Rey, securing a commendable third place. Despite setting his feet into the format, Victor did not see potential coaches who could kickstart his basketball career.

With his long frame, basketball became a mainstay in his career and sometimes, you can see him not jumping to grab a rebound. Being a tall basketball has its advantages as Wembanyama became the center of attention everywhere he went. 

Professional Career in France

Nanterre 92 (2019–2021): In 2019–20, Victor took his first step with the Nanterre 92 senior squad under the guidance of head coach Pascal Donnadieu at age 15. However, he could only feature in two games. This was because Wembanyama was primarily focused on competing in the French U21 league - LNB Espoirs. He also represented its U18 team. In 2020, Wemby stepped up for the Adidas Next Generation Tournament with Nanterre's under-18 team. He posted an incredible stat line of 15.8 points, 12 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and six blocks per game, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Further, Wembanyama split time between Nanterre's senior and under-21 teams. Injuries didn't help his cause, either. 

He suffered a stress fracture in his fibula during an Espoirs game against BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque. With an estimated recovery time of eight weeks, his career started to derail. After two and a half months from the injury, he returned to showcase he's still got it. Likewise, he then played with the senior team, averaging 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

ASVEL (2021–2022): In June 2021, Wembanyama signed a three-year deal with ASVEL in the Pro A and the EuroLeague. But because of an illness, he couldn't play for a month but made his debut and got one block in three minutes. Injuries kept dampening his progress, which looked like one step forward and two steps back. On 3 April, Wembanyama recorded a season-high 25 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in an 85–65 win over Le Portel.

Soon, he became Pro A Best Young Player and runner-up for the EuroLeague Rising Star award. Despite club president Tony Park promising to build a team around him, Wembanyama opted out of his contract with the franchise. 

Metropolitans 92 (2022–2023) In July 2022, he joined Metropolitans 92 due to coach Vincent Collet's ability to develop young talents. His reputation soared in October 2022 in games against the NBA G League Ignite, where he gained attention from American media. He dominated the league from start to finish. This is where the NBA scouts took notice and craved his signature. Over 200 NBA scouts and executives watched two exhibition games of Wembanyama, scribbling their paperwork to get him on board. He scored 35+ points in two stunning games a new star was born. 

All-Star games became a display of his talents, becoming the youngest MVP in an All-Star game. At the end of the season, he averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. He was selected to the All-Pro A First Team and named Best Defender, Best Scorer, Best Young Player, and Best Blocker. Staggering awards for the talented Frenchman. Moreover, he became the youngest player to win the LNB Pro A MVP Award. He declared himself for the 2023 NBA draft. 

NBA Career with San Antonio Spurs (2023–present)

In one of the greatest days in NBA history, the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA draft as a first overall pick. The Spurs had their third first-overall pick, and he joined the likes of David Robinson and Tim Duncan to form an elite list. The player stood tall in front of a sold-out crowd as he made his Summer League debut against the Charlotte Hornets. However, he just had 9 points and 8 rebounds. Those jitters didn't expect for longer periods. Wembanyama scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the team's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the next game. 

In his NBA season debut, Wembanyama went against the Dallas Mavericks and scored 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Later, he scored a career-high 38 points and joined LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only teenagers in NBA history to score 35+ points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a game. In the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wembanyama had eight blocks, joining Duncan and Robinson to put up eight blocks as a rookie. The shades of similarity between his peers and him look great. He became the youngest player in NBA history to put up at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game at 19 years and 338 days old, surpassing the previous record set by Dwight Howard. Meanwhile, with his eighth double-double, he passed Dwight Howard's record for the most consecutive games with a double-double by a teenager in NBA history. The records kept tumbling down for the rookie. 

On January 10th, 2024, Wembanyama fetched his first triple-double with 16 points, 12 boards, and 10 dishes in the win against Pistons. Wemby finished the season as the first player in NBA history to put up at least 1,500 points, 250 blocks, and 100 made three-pointers in a season. With around 3.6 blocks per game, he became the youngest player to lead the NBA in blocks at 20 years, and 101 days. Staggering isn't it?

Awards came in thick and fast and there was no surprise the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year won the award unanimously. As a rookie, he finished in second place in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award voting. The greatest feat of all: Wembanyama was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, becoming the first rookie and youngest player in NBA history to achieve this feat.

National Team Contributions

Like most players, Victor Wembanyama represented France at junior and senior levels. He played the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship in Udine, Italy. By averaging nine points, 9.6 rebounds, and an impressive 5.3 blocks per game, he led France to a silver medal and was honored with a spot on the all-tournament team. He even got a silver medal in a similar U19 tournament for his country. Having recorded 8 blocks in the final against the USA, Wembanyama set the FIBA record for blocks per game in a single tournament.

The player had a significant role in France's route to the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wemby and Co. reached the finals to face the nation he plays in. With averages of 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game, Wemby rocked the nation. Hence, he announced his arrival at the grandest stage of them all to the basketball fraternity. 

Playing Style and Skill Set

In terms of a player built for the NBA, Victor Wembanyama ticks all the boxes. He is tall and agile, and with his massive wingspan, he could even block Stephen Curry with his fast shooting. Victor is a rare gem unearthed from France with a unique combination of skill sets, similar to guards and centers. He can shoot 3-pointers at ease, give the greatest ball handlers a run for their money, and block shots for fun- we could see a quadruple-double soon.

Moreover, because of his long frame and lanky style, the NBA community often compares him to legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Therefore, the player continues to impress people with his range of skills. 

Off the Court

Apart from basketball, Victor Wembanyama comes with a multilingual package, as he knows both French and English. He can speak them fluently. Adding to the list of his extracurricular activities, his fondness for art often goes under the radar. Wembanyama often visits art galleries to glimpse the latest paintings out on the market. "Each line, each dot [on a clipboard playbook] is a pass or a basket during a game. Every game is an artwork in of itself," Wembanyama mentioned. He also has an interest in science fiction and literature showcasing his other talents. To emphasize his wizardry off the ball, cameras catch him juggling balls before NBA games. A jack of all trades.

With a player of his stature, sponsorship deals come aplenty. He has deals with brands like Nike, 2k, and Louis Vuitton. After partnering with LV, Wembanyama mentioned,  “I wanted a meaningful partnership. To me it made a lot of sense to partner with LV—you know, French excellence. The expertise is something that I feel very much attracted to,” stated Wemby.

Meanwhile, he was involved in an incident off-court as Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League. When Victor walked to have dinner, pop star Britney Spears strolled behind her back and tried to get his attention for a photograph. However, Wembanyama's security pushed her away, and she allegedly mentioned how her glasses came off. Spears wanted an apology after the incident, but Wembanyama stated how he didn't know she was the pop star. He downplayed the incident and finished a nice dinner.

Sponsorships and Endorsements

It's no surprise about Victor Wembanyama's sponsorship deals. When LeBron James arrived to the NBA, the rookie signed a $90 million contract with Nike. In the same way, Wembanyama signed deals with 2K, Barcode, Louis Vuitton and Nike, to name a few. Notably, he joined forces with Barcode, a performance drink company founded by Mubarak Malik, former performance director for the Lakers and Knicks; along with Wizards player Kyle Kuzma.

In terms of how Nike market their players, they snapped him up in France when he played professional basketball. With Nike's unique eye for budding talents, they nicknamed Wembanyama the "Extraterrestrial", with an outer space approach to market him to the world. It works well with his tall frame and worldly capabilities on a basketball court.