Follow us on Google Discover Victor Wembanyama’s unique mentality has been evident since he was just 16 years old.
Victor Wembanyama may be just 22 years old, but he got his first professional basketball experience at the tender age of 15 back in 2019.
The Frenchman was with Nanterre 92 in France, after a coach had spotted him on the bench at an U-11s game because of his size and brought Wemby to the club.
He has already come a long way, having led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals in 2026. He is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. And even though his life has changed, Wemby’s always been the same.
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty ImagesVictor Wembanyama told his coach the V in his name means he plays all five positions on the court
Wemby has become known for his extreme confidence and desire to improve despite already being one of the best. This was seen last offseason, when he went to train with Shaolin monks, for example.
And while he’s never stopped trying to be better, it seems the confidence has always been there. The Spurs man is a unicorn, he moves like a guard despite being 7’5. When he was 16, he explained why he’s so versatile in a truly surprising fashion.
“He said, ‘You know, Coach, my name is Victor,’” his former coach Michaël Bur recalled. “I said, ‘Well, yes.’ He said, ‘What letter does it start with?’ And I said, ‘the letter V’.
“And he said, ‘V in Roman numerals means 5. My name is Victor because I can play all five positions.’ And I thought that was extraordinary for a 16-year-old.”
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Fans have known Wembanyama is special since he was just 16 years old. His natural gifts combined with his confidence and his intelligence mean that every NBA team should be worried about the next decade.
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