Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama is the single most extraordinary physical specimen professional basketball has ever produced, and calling him a generational talent undersells what he actually is — he is the kind of player who forces the sport to rewrite its understanding of what is possible. Born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France, and selected first overall in 2023 after a pre-draft showcase that generated more global excitement than most Finals series, Wembanyama has already, in just his second NBA season, established himself as a category of one. There is no historical comparison. There is no precedent. There is only Wemby.

In 2024-25, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points per game across 46 games while leading the league in blocks at 3.8 per game for the second consecutive season. He is 7-foot-4 and shoots three-pointers. He blocks shots at the rim and handles the ball like a guard in transition. No player of his size has ever possessed this skill set because no player of his size has ever existed with this skill set — the combination is literally without precedent in the hundred-plus years of organised basketball. The Spurs finished 34-48, and it does not matter. The future standing in the paint at Frost Bank Center is worth more than any current won-loss record.

For Australian fans, Wembanyama is the most compelling reason to watch the NBA right now. His games on ESPN via Kayo Sports are must-watch television because every performance contains at least one moment that makes you question the laws of physics. The Spurs’ development of this unprecedented talent, guided by a championship-calibre coaching infrastructure, is the most compelling storyline in modern sport. He is 21 years old. He is being discussed as a potential top-10 player in history. And the terrifying part is that the discussion might be conservative.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Victor Wembanyama plays centre for the San Antonio Spurs and is the most extraordinary basketball prospect since LeBron James, which might actually be underselling him. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman averaged 24.3 points per game in 2024-25 while leading the league in blocks for the second consecutive season, and the combination of size, skill, and basketball intelligence he displays on a nightly basis has no historical precedent. He is 21. He is only getting started. The rest of the NBA should be terrified.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com