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

Jan 22 , 2024

Victor Wembanyama (aka Wemby), the 20-year-old French NBA star, counts Drake and Michael Douglas amongst his fans. Photo: @wemby/Instagram

The youngest in NBA history to achieve a 20-20 game since Dwight Howard, Wemby signed the largest possible deal under the US league’s labour agreement, and is on track to make a billion on the court

He was born in Le Chesnay in Paris and comes from a family of athletes, including father Felix Wembanyama and mother Elodie de Fautereau, and he was discovered by Michaël Allard at 10

Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old French basketball sensation, has taken the NBA by storm with his remarkable skills and presence. Standing at an astonishing 224cm, Wembanyama has captured the world’s attention, earning him fans from basketball legends Kevin Durant to Drake and Michael Douglas.

But where did he come from, and how did he get his big break? Here’s what you need to know.

Victor Wembanyama loved basketball since he was young

Victor Wembanyama’s childhood was spent in the suburbs of Paris. Photo: @wemby/Instagram

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.

Victor Wembanyama, who stands at towering 224cm, is photographed here with his father Felix Wembanyama, a former field athlete. Photo @wemby/Instagram

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.