Meet Victor ‘Wemby’ Wembanyama, an NBA legend at just 20: he signed a historic US$55 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, has fans like Drake and LeBron James – and stands at a towering 224cm

Born in the Parisian suburb of Le Chesnay, Wembanyama’s basketball journey began under the watchful eye of his mother Elodie de Fautereau, a dedicated basketball coach, according to People. Inspired by his family’s passion for the sport, including his sister Eve, brother Oscar, grandfather Michel de Fautereau and grandmother Marie Christine, all of whom also played basketball, Wembanyama immersed himself in the game from a young age.

His father Felix, a former field athlete according to the New York Post, instilled in him a deep appreciation for proper technique and the art of the game.

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In an interview with Slam, Wembanyama credits his father for teaching him proper running technique, telling the publication, “Dad gave me the passion for knowing subjects in-depth, being a real technician of sports, of whatever I do.”

The basketball prodigy’s claim to fame

Wembanyama’s entry into basketball was rather serendipitous, according to CNN. At just 10 years old, he caught the attention of Michaël Allard, coach of the Nanterre 92 basketball club. Allard, mistaking the towering youngster for an assistant coach due to his height, approached club officials to sign him on. Wembanyama joined the team’s youth development academy, where he honed his skills and developed his signature style of play. According to France-Amerique, Wembanyama played for the team for seven years. He then joined the Metropolitans 92, followed by the Spurs in 2023.

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Wemby’s on-the-court magic

Even before making his mark in mainstream basketball, Wembanyama was recognised as a rising star. His exceptional height, coupled with his natural talent, skills and approachable demeanour, drew praise from some of the greatest names in the sport.

Per Sports Illustrated, NBA legend Durant expressed his admiration for Wembanyama, saying, “That type of talent and skill just puts a smile on your face if you play basketball.” Durant added that the NBA community was eagerly anticipating watching Wembanyama in action.

The iconic LeBron James echoed Durant’s sentiments, calling Wembanyama a “special talent”, adding that “they’ve got a good one here”.Wembanyama is among the tallest players in NBA history. His incredible height has generated considerable fascination, with fans marvelling at his agile and smooth athleticism despite his lengthy frame. His unique combination of size and skill has made him a magnet for celebrities too, with the likes of Drake and Michael Douglas showing their support – both of whom he’s been photographed with.

Breaking NBA records

In December 2023, Wembanyama made NBA history by recording a remarkable 20-point, 20-rebound performance in the San Antonio Spurs’ 128-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls. This achievement made him, at just 19 years old, the youngest player in NBA history to achieve a 20-20 game, breaking the previous record held by Dwight Howard by just four days.

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Wembanyama’s meteoric rise continued this month when Bloomberg reported that he was on track to become the first professional basketball player to earn a staggering US$1 billion on the court. Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick in the 2023 National Basketball Association draft, Wembanyama signed a four-year, US$55.2 million rookie contract – the largest possible deal under the US league’s current labour agreement.

In the same month, the NBA announced on X, formerly Twitter, that Wembanyama had become “the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with zero turnovers”, with turnovers first being tracked in 1977-78. Wemby achieved this feat at the age of 20 years old.