STRETCH
Wembymania Sweeps the NBA
News: Sports Extra
The seven-foot-four-tall (2.25-meter-tall) rookie caught the pass. Dribbling, he spun past his defender and took a GIANT step to cross under the basket. He then extended an incredibly long arm. SLAM! His dunk rattled the backboard.
Plays like that have announced the arrival of Victor Wembanyama. He is a rising star in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hoops legend LeBron James had this to say about the young Frenchman: "…he's…like an alien. No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor." "Wemby" was just 19 years old when the 2023–2024 season began, but his talent wowed the crowds from the start.
Wembymania has arrived!
The French Force
Victor Wembanyama was born in France. As a boy, he played hoops against older kids. He towered over his teammates. He rose through the leagues in France with dreams of one day playing in the NBA. He even taught himself English to get ready to play in the United States. Years of preparation paid off in 2023. That year, the San Antonio Spurs chose him as the first pick in the NBA draft.
In basketball, being taller than seven feet can be a big advantage. Other qualities, though, have prompted people to call Wembanyama a once-in-a-generation talent. Chief among them is his willingness to work hard. Throughout his teens, he practiced special drills to improve his long-range shooting as well as slick ball-handling skills. His coaches always challenged him to be an all-around player.
In short, Wembanyama's height makes him a great scorer and defender. At the same time, he is great at handling the ball. In another game, Wembanyama stole the ball and dribbled through an opponent's legs. He drove to the basket, then flicked a pass to a teammate for a score.
Wembanyama carried sky-high expectations into his first season with the Spurs. His coaches say he has the maturity to deal with the pressures of stardom. He also has a reputation for supporting his teammates.
Growing Pains
Wembanyama made plenty of mistakes his first season. Every game, he matched up against the strongest players he'd ever faced. They included larger-than-life all-stars like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, and Zion Williamson. All of these big men outweigh him by 70 pounds (about 32 kilograms) or more. Meanwhile, the Spurs struggled through a long losing streak. They spent the season stuck near the bottom of the standings.
Still, Wembanyama astonished crowds everywhere he played. With his long arms, Wemby led the league in blocked shots. He was among NBA leaders in rebounds, too. He also averaged almost 20 points a game.
Time will tell if Victor Wembanyama will be a superstar like LeBron James. For now, he will continue to adapt to the NBA and fill out his lanky frame. But it's fair to say that the sky may be his only limit.
