Wembanyama: The Spurs star's unconventional path to NBA stardom

Victor Wembanyama stands at 7-foot-4 and holds the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, yet he rejects the label of supernatural alien that fans have assigned to him. Instead, the 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs center describes himself as a man making the most of his earthly minutes.

Wembanyama, who was the top pick in the 2023 Draft, spoke with CBS News this preseason about his approach to the game. He noted that his favorite play is the alley-oop, citing it as a team play that also allows him to dunk.

The Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in five games during the NBA Finals last year. Wembanyama admitted he was far from his best during that series, specifically referencing a controversial pick on Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

"It showed my limits more than anything else," Wembanyama said. "Going out there, you need to play basketball. You don't need to beat the s**t out of people."

His training regimen includes unusual methods. After a blood clot ended his second season, he focused heavily on foot strength, often practicing barefoot. He believes that good foot posture allows the knees, hips, and back to develop correctly.

In the summer of 2025, Wembanyama traveled to China to live with Buddhist monks. He practiced kung fu and meditation, enduring an initial session of 40 minutes of complete silence. He stated that the experience was difficult but pushed him to a new level.

He also returns to France regularly, hosting an annual tournament in Nanterre near Paris. There, he plays pick-up chess and one-on-one basketball with local prospects. He hosted his Spurs teammates in France this past summer, taking them to the Seine to show them his culture.

Wembanyama said he does not live a normal life in the United States due to his status as an athlete. However, he called it the best country to be an athlete in. He is now entering his fourth NBA season.