Basketball: Victor Wembanyama - How the Frenchman is preparing for the most anticipated NBA debut since LeBron James
Just how good will Victor Wembanyama be as an NBA rookie? From gaining weight to his relationship with Gregg Popovich, find out more about what the San Antonio Spurs star has been up to ahead of his debut on 25 October.
Basketball
It was yet another viral moment in the life of Victor Wembanyama.
The 19-year-old French basketball phenom, arriving at the Frost Bank Center on Friday (13 October) for his first home pre-season game for the San Antonio Spurs, turned up wearing a New York Liberty jersey printed with the number 23, the same one worn by Marine Johannès, another French basketball star who was playing in the WNBA Finals for the side.
The outfit, which was a response to Johannès sporting Wembanyama’s number ahead of her first Finals game, exploded online, with many applauding the exchange between two great French giants at the top of their games.
It was a moment of celebration of how far French basketball has come and its continued impact on the world of hoops.
But for those looking to see how Wembaynama is tracking ahead of his NBA debut on 25 October, there was even more to be gleaned.
In choosing to make such a statement with his clothes at a time when he knew all eyes would be on him, Wembanayama revealed a consciousness of the attention he now draws.
And the vaunted 2023 NBA Draft No.1 pick, projected to be as big as LeBron James, also showed that he is already comfortable enough with that knowledge to make it work for him.
That the former Metropolitans 92 player is feeling confident enough at Spurs to make the most of such an opportunity to support his compatriot in the ‘W’ hints at the positive, transformational journey the soon-to-be rookie has been on since he first wore the Spurs jersey in Summer League.
Understanding how to work the media is just one dimension to the NBA preparations that followed Wembanyama's two uneven performances in July that the big man himself admitted left him breathless.
A lot has changed since then with the Frenchman taking big strides toward his heavily anticipated NBA debut.
Victor Wembanyama: Flashing the depth of his preparation with impressive preseason play
After something of a mixed showing in the NBA’s Summer League, Wembanyama was withdrawn from the action by the Spurs and sent to the laboratory of training camp to keep working on skillset and adapting to NBA rules.
It was a quiet time, with little heard from the Frenchman. But, the results that have followed have more than impressed onlookers.
While against the Charlotte Hornets back in July Wembanyama appeared to struggle with physicality and conditioning, when he turned up for his first official pre-season game for the Spurs against the Oklahoma City Thunder (121-122) on 9 October, doubts surrounding his ability to stand tall were quashed with his 20-point performance in just 19 minutes on court.
More reassuringly, Wembanyama appeared to grow into the game becoming more demanding and aggressive on the ball both in offense and defence.
His first basket of the night was a two-handed dunk, which was subsequently followed by a rejection on Jalen Williams, selected into the All-Rookie team last season. He also went toe-to-toe with Chet Holmgren, a number two pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, and the French star wasn’t shy about showing his force.
At one point during the game, Wembanayma drove at the OKC Thunder big man before posting an and-one layup. Meanwhile, Holmgren was left on the floor.
If there were glimpses of what his size and skill might do against the Thunder in the power forward position, then against the Miami Heat (120-104) four days later at center, ‘Wemby’ appeared to have unlocked another gear.
He put up 23 points in 23 minutes as well as adding four rebounds, four assists and three blocks. But what stole the show was his reem of highlight reel moves including an alley-oop in the second quarter.
If, before, he looked a little disjointed, against Miami Wembanyama was involved in play across the court showing a marked improvement in his understanding of NBA play, particularly in defence.
Speaking to the press afterwards, Wembanyama alluded to what he had been working on to deliver such a performance.
“I’m still learning to do some things defensively, defending the pin downs, for example," the Spurs player said.
"I'm really learning a lot, and I'm trying to expand my tools on defence, too," he added. "I think we're on the right path. We've still got a lot to learn about ourselves and also about our teammates but we are on the right path.”
Victor Wembanyama: Growing the connection with Gregg Popovich
The language of learning is one often used by Wembanyama to describe his current journey towards his NBA start.
Though he knows he will be far from a finished project when he makes his debut, that hasn’t stopped his hunger to become the best version of himself.
Fashioning that player naturally falls under the remit of Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich.
Something of a coaching legend in the NBA for having masterminded five title wins and Team USA’s Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 in 2021, the thought of Wembaynama developing under Popovich is a prospect that has excited many, not least with his history of overseeing the legendary careers of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.
Like Wembanyama, Popovich has also emphasised growth when it comes to the rising star, but notably over time. On Draft night the coach made that plain when he underlined the process that would begin with the Frenchman's arrival.
“We must not skip any steps,” Popovich said back in June. “Because of the hype, he will be targeted. The important thing is to establish a framework and an environment in which he feels comfortable. He's not LeBron (James), Tim (Duncan), Kobe (Bryant) or anyone else. He is Victor and we want him to stay that way.”
Early signs that Wembanyama is feeling comfortable at Spurs and under Popovich have been clear to see with his preseason performances but it is a sentiment that has been echoed off the court by Wembanyama too.
Following the loss to OKC Thunder, Wembanyama hinted at how his relationship with Popovich has flourished since he joined the franchise.
“I know that every time he talks to me, I can trust him,” Wembanyama said to reporters, alluding to the growing depth of their connection.
“I think he's trying not to dwell on me too much, but I told him I can take a lot. I want to get as much advice as possible.”
Chiming in accordance with Wembanyama, after their second pre-season game, Popovich shared what he had learned about the Frenchman and how he hopes to continue to bring the best out of him and the team going forward.
“He’s obviously a gifted player who was very humbly trying to find his place,” the Spurs coach said post-match.
“I called one play for him all night and I think he got over 20. He just did that because he’s a good basketball player and he understands how to play, so we have to make sure that we blend that with everything else that we have.”
Wembanyama: Putting on the pounds for a physical transformation
One central component to Wembanyama’s preparations for his first NBA season, aside from his development on the court and with his coach, has been his body.
Standing at 2.24m (7-foot-4), Wembanyama’s physique is one of his greatest assets, not least because of the way he has managed to master it to his advantage.
Concerns have existed since even before the Draft that his frame might become an issue as he comes up against stronger more physical NBA players and the lengthy season ahead.
But any such worry is not affecting Wembanyama, who revealed earlier this month that he had gained 10-15 pounds (5-7kg) since he’s been in San Antonio, and rather than keep adding to that, as some might expect, he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t go any further.
“I’m trying to stop there,” Wembanyama told reporters on media day. “I’m trying to not add too much too quick. We’re on a good path. My conditioning and physical condition are way, way better than any time before in my life so we’re good.”
If Wembanyama’s words on his form weren’t enough to persuade sceptics as to his readiness, then the video the basketball star shared on social media puts to rest any doubts as to his flexibility.
Dropping into a full front split seemed no issue for the big man who posted the video with an ominous, ‘summer is over’, caption suggesting just how prepared he feels.