“When he was about eight years old, Victor Wembanyama, the French basketball phenom, was already 5’8.” His first coaches were always impressed by his height and talent. Emanuel Saravas, his former coach at Le Chesnay-Versailles, shared how Wembanyama began to excel in French basketball.
As a kid, everyone thought he was ten years old because of his height. In Le Chesnay-Versailles, an affluent community outside of Paris, young Victor, now 19 years old, started playing basketball. Saravas mentioned that they had no doubt he would have the physique to play at the highest level, as his mother is 1.91 meters tall and his father is 2.05 meters tall. Saravas showed off some of Wembanyama’s old sneakers from when he was 15 years old, size 53.
In addition to his stature, Wembanyama’s family is composed of passionate sports fans. His mother was a player and coach at Chesnay-Versailles, and his father is a former athlete and fitness trainer. His older sister, Eve, plays for Monaco, as Victor did after a stint with Asvel the previous season. Oscar, the youngest brother in the family, also plays basketball after starting out in handball.
Wembanyama, nicknamed “Wemby,” is a talented draftsman and an excellent student, finishing high school with honors and a year earlier than usual. His skill level at such a young age surprised everyone. According to Saravas, Wembanyama is able to dribble, shoot, pass, and run, making him a complete player. Michael Bur, one of his coaches at Nanterre, describes him as a versatile player capable of playing power forward or small forward and compares him to Dirk Nowitzki.
Wembanyama made his professional debut at the age of 15 and has since demonstrated his talent both in Europe and the United States. Despite his thinness, he has caught the attention of the NBA. However, his physical adjustment will be a challenge. Although he has gained some weight, he will need to develop his musculature to cope with the physical nature of the NBA. His former coaches are confident that he can get stronger without losing his agility and skills. Philippe Sudre, head of the Metropolitans 92 training center, summarizes that Wembanyama must get stronger without losing his agility to face the physical challenges of the NBA.