Victor Wembanyama is the new star of French and even world basketball.
The 19-year-old player is announced as the first choice of the next NBA draft. He has impressed since the start of the season with the Metropolitans 92 and even took his first steps in the France team.
This Sunday, February 26 against Lithuania in Trélazé, the interior will honor its fourth selection, three days after the victory of the Blues against Czechia (72-59), during which Wemby scored 22 points.
Before this meeting, the last of the Blues in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup, discover the figures and records that make Victor Wembanyama a truly special player.
Victor Wembanyama, an extraordinary physique
If Victor Wembanyama is talked about so much, it’s because he has rare technical qualities for a player of his size. The native of Chesnay in the Paris region has extraordinary measurements: 2.21 m, 2.43 m wingspan and shoes size 55.
This size makes him a permanent threat inside. Next year in the NBA, he will be the player with the greatest stature and on the podium of the greatest players under contract. By way of comparison, his compatriot Rudy Goberta reference across the Atlantic, measures “only” 2.16 m.
“Victor Wembanyama is an alien. I have never seen, and no one has ever seen, someone as tall as him who is as fluid and graceful as he is on the court,” said LeBron James about Victor Wembanyama. Because yes, the Frenchman is not only an imposing interior, he is also a player capable of making the difference with his dribbling and his exterior address.
It is for this reason that all NBA franchises are watching him.
Victor Wembanyama’s physique in numbers
- Height: 2.21m
- Poids : 105 kg
- Wingspan: 2.43 m
- Size: 55
Victor Wembanyama, a model of precocity
The talent of Victor Wembanyama has been spotted for several years now. He was trained in Nanterre, which did not hesitate to throw him into the deep end before his 16th birthday. At only 15, he appeared twice in the Eurocup for a total of three minutes of play.
A year later, in the fall of 2020, the interior took its first steps in the French championship. And he quickly got there. Wemby finished the 2020/21 season with 18 games, 10 of which started in the major five. His stats were already promising with 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 16.9 minutes per game.
In 2021/22, he continued his progress with Lyon-Villeurbanne by discovering the Euroleague and becoming French champion under the colors of ASVEL.
Victor Wembanyama joined the Metropolitans 92 at the start of the 2022/23 season where he established himself as a true leader.
Since the beginning of his professional career, he has already played 59 games in the elite of French basketball and even broke a prestigious record by scoring 618 points before his 19th birthday. No one has done so well so early in their career. Not even Antoine Rigaudeauthe former record holder with 605 units.
The great firsts of Victor Wembanyama
- October 29, 2019: First match in the European Cup (Nanterre – Germani Brescia)
- September 23, 2020: First match in the French Championship (Nanterre – Bourg-en-Bresse)
- November 11, 2022: First selection for the French national team (Lithuania – France)
The palm of Victor Wembanyama
- Vice-champion of Europe U16 in 2019
- Vice-champion du monde U19 in 2021
- Best young player in the French Championship in 2020/21 and 2021/22
- French Champion 2022
- MVP du All-Star Game LNB en 2022
Victor Wembanayama, a record season before being drafted in the NBA
Victor Wembanyama is announced as the first choice of the next NBA draft. And he justifies this projection at almost each of his outings with the Metropolitans 92 jersey.
The French international is currently the best scorer (22.2 points per game), the best rebounder (9.5 rebounds), the best blocker (3.1 blocks) and has the best evaluation (25.6) of the French Championship this season.
The native of Chesnay wrote history for obtaining such averages after 21 days. In December, he notably chained four consecutive games to 30 points or more. Never had a Frenchman produced such a series.
Wemby can assert itself as the French number 1 in other areas by the end of the season. If his averages don’t falter, he can become the first local player to finish a season in basketball’s top flight scoring more than 20 points per game and also become the youngest MVP in history.
Victor Wembanyama is not yet the highest drafted French player in NBA history, but he has already broken other national records…
Victor Wembanyama’s averages in 2022/23
After 21 days
- Points: 22.2 points per game (number 1)
- Rebounds: 9.5 rebounds per game (number 1)
- Assists: 2.3 assists per game (number 52)
- Blocks: 3.1 blocks per game (number 1)
- Steals: 0.9 steals per game (number 60)
- Rating: 25.6 (number 1)
