Victor Wembanyama has been short changed.
Officially listed at 7ft 3in by the San Antonio Spurs, fans have long argued that he is taller.
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Wemby towers over his Spurs teammates and is getting tallerCredit: Getty
They were right.
Recently, the Spurs listed Wemby at 7ft 4in — without shoes — making him the joint-tallest player in the NBA.
However, in their latest roster update on their official site, he is listed as a whopping 7ft 5in and 235lbs.
The French phenom was already a matchup nightmare when he was drafted in 2023, and at 21, he still has room to grow.
It is not uncommon for youngsters to add height during their early years in the league — Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo became even more freakish after arriving in The Association — so The Alien could yet reach dimensions that are even more out of this world.
NBA star Victor Wembanyama stuns Kevin Hart with 30-pound bulk-up
Already boasting an eight-foot wingspan, the Spurs superstar led the NBA in blocks over the last two seasons.
What is truly a frightening prospect is that many men don’t hit their physical peak until their late 20s.
If there is one criticism of Wemby, it is a lack of strength at the post — something he is working hard to address.
The Frenchman has added 40 pounds in two years since being drafted and spent the offseason honing his body and mind.
Teammate Luke Kornet was on the receiving end early in preparations for the new season.
The 7ft 2in, 250-pound center was bullied in an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday as Wemby shoved him in the chest to clear a path before unleashing a brutal two-handed dunk.
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The Alien has been adding muscle to his lean frameCredit: Getty
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Wemby’s wingspan is arguably more important than his heightCredit: Getty
Over 10,000 fans bore witness and Kornet admitted he felt the force of Wemby’s offseason work.
“He’s obviously gotten a lot stronger,” he said of his teammate. “He can be just honestly a monster.”
Victor Wembanyama’s offseason workout regime
Wembanyama’s summer included a trip to a Shaolin temple in China.
“I don’t think many people have trained the way we trained this summer,” he said. “It was my best summer so far. I can tell the progress is just incredible.
“It was very much out of my comfort zone. That was my intent from the start.”
Blood clots cut short Wemby’s season in February, and he has been desperate to return to the court.
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“It might seem quick,” he said. “But it has been long for me.”
Spurs teammate Harrison Barnes joined him for summer workouts with skills trainer Noah Laroche in in Los Angeles,
All-time greats Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett have also been sought out for advice.
“[Hakeem] has still got it…It was incredible. His advice felt natural. Even though it was a lot, it felt like I was absorbing it every day. And it was just a few days, but super useful,” he said.
“It looked like it was a pleasure for him to teach. So I would want to go again for sure.”
On Garnett, Wemby added: “Super interesting… he’s got a very unique perspective on the relationship…as a leader, relationships with teammates and opponents and even the refs…and even the media, everybody.
“I think he’s really smart emotionally… he’s got this energy, but he knows how to channel it and use it for the best.”
Victor Wembanyama adopts new diet
Brutal workouts and a beefed-up diet have ensured Wemby is entering training camp in the shape of his life.
“I don’t think I’ll be obese anytime soon,” Wembanyama said. “But I’ve been eating a lot.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is thrilled with the youngster’s incredible work ethic.
“The things he thinks about that may be a small nuance,” Johnson said. “But he feels like, ‘If I can add this to my world being, mindset, whatever it may be.’ … I know I wasn’t thinking like that at that age.”
Listed at 240, Wemby has only put on five pounds from last season.
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De’Aaron Fox is 6ft 3in tall but looks tiny next to his teammateCredit: Getty
But the power is what matters.
“Once he gets around the goal and gets downhill, now he can actually take some bumps and still be able to gather and reach (the rim),” Kornet said. “It’s the foundation for him really being an offensive star.”
The journey to success starts in the mind, and Wembanyama is locked in.
“I feel better, I look stronger and the scale says I’m heavier,” he said. “So everything is a green light.”
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