Victor Nonga Wembanyama-de Fautereau-Vassel, nicknamed โWembyโ and โthe Alien,โ is a French professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs. He was selected first overall in the 2023 NBA draft and is considered one of the best basketball prospects ever due to his rare combination of height, agility, and skills.
๐ Early Life and Family
Victor Wembanyama was born on 4 January 2004 in Le Chesnay, in the Paris region. His father, Fรฉlix, was a track and field athlete, and his mother, รlodie de Fautereau, is a French basketball coach and former player.
His older sister, รve, plays basketball professionally, and his younger brother, Oscar, has played basketball and handball. His maternal grandfather, Michel de Fautereau, played professional basketball, and his grandmother, Marie-Christine, also played the sport.
๐ Youth and Early Career
Wembanyama played football as a goalkeeper and practiced judo before focusing on basketball. He learned to play basketball from his mother and began playing for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles at age seven, joining the youth system of Nanterre 92 at age 10.
In February 2018, he was loaned to FC Barcelona for an under-14 tournament, leading his team to third place. He declined an offer to continue with Barcelona, citing that the coaches were not willing to challenge him.
๐ Professional Debut and Nanterre 92
In the 2019โ20 season, Wembanyama gained his first professional experience with the Nanterre 92 senior team. He made his professional debut on 29 October 2019, playing 31 seconds against Brescia in the EuroCup, becoming the second-youngest player to play in the EuroCup.
In the 2020โ21 season, he split time between Nanterre’s senior and under-21 teams. He was named Pro A Best Young Player, averaging 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 18 Pro A appearances.
๐ ASVEL and Metropolitans 92
On 29 June 2021, Wembanyama signed a three-year contract with ASVEL. He repeated as Pro A Best Young Player, averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in the league.
On 4 July 2022, he signed a two-year contract with Metropolitans 92. In the 2022โ23 season, he became the youngest player to win the LNB Pro A MVP Award, also earning Best Defender, Best Scorer, and Best Young Player honors.
๐ NBA Career and Achievements
On 22 June 2023, Wembanyama was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He became the first French player to be drafted first overall and only the second European player to achieve this distinction.
Following a historic rookie season, he was unanimously named the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year. He became the first rookie ever and youngest player ever to be named to the All-Defensive First Team.
๐ International Career
Wembanyama plays for the French national team, with whom he won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. At the youth level, he led his team to two silver medals, including at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he set the FIBA record for blocks per game in a single tournament.
| Category | Detail | Year | Team/League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Date | 4 January 2004 | 2004 | Le Chesnay, France |
| NBA Draft | First overall pick | 2023 | San Antonio Spurs |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | Unanimous winner | 2024 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Pro A MVP | Youngest winner | 2022โ23 | Metropolitans 92 |