Victor Wembanyama is one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA, with the 7’3 center out of France mesmerizing fans with his ball handling and his basketball IQ.
That’s why it was terrible news when the San Antonio Spurs announced on February 20th that his young center was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which made him missed the remainder of the season.
Since then, the 21-years-old player underwent surgery to address his health problem. Wemby hopes that he can make the French team that will be part of this summer’s EuroBasket 2025 tournament, after getting the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Victor Wembanyama looks goofy playing basketball
While he gets the recovery time he needs to shine again in the basketball court, rare footage from a then 8-years-old Victor Wembanyama resurfaced online. The video shows a scrawny kid with big basketball shoes getting mad when his opponents scored.
It also shows Wemby with some nice moves on the paint, his willingness to play defense, his good passing abiliy, and the footwork that he will polished with the years in order to become the No.1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, getting selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
An ESPN piece on the rise of the French center noted that Victor grew up in Le Chesnay, a suburb in the shadow of the Palace of Versailles, about a 40-minute drive from Paris. Wemby’s mother is 6’3 and was a former basketball player in France before becoming a basketball coach. His dad is a 6’6 former long jumper who worked with young track athletes.
A NBA star on the rise
Victor Wembanyama is a star on the rise for the NBA, having won the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award. On his sophomore season he averaged 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 3.8 assists and one steal in 33.2 minutes of playing time, some stellar numbers for the young baller.
Before he was forced to be sidelined because of health issues, he was the only player in the league during the last regular season to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, one three pointer and one block per game. There’s no doubt about all the potential he has to become one of the best centers of all time.
Victor already is the only player in NBA history with multiple seasons recording 150+ blocks, 100+ assists, and 100+ three-pointers. Earlier this year, the French superstar became the first player in NBA history to record 2,000+ points, 1,000+ rebounds and 200+ three-pointers in his first 100 career games.
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