Wembanyama’s amazing physical stats that make him the NBA’s number one phenomenon

Victor Wembanyama is a confirmed phenomenon. And excitement over his prospects for the coming season are bubbling hot. Over the past year, his towering presence has loomed over the NBA, garnering a level of anticipation not seen since the debut of LeBron James in 2003. The four pre-season games he played make it clear: Wembanyama is a new archetype, an almost unimaginable player. Even those who questioned his ability to transition across the Atlantic have seen enough to quell their doubts. Paul George recently stated on his podcast, “I have to eat my words... he’s making plays that no one else can stop. He’s going to keep coaches up at night, wondering how to handle him.” NBA legend Paul Pierce told Kevin Garnett, another Celtics great, that Wembanyama is already “one of the top five most talented players in the NBA.” Garnett responded that he sees the Spurs making the playoffs this season, given the impact they expect from the number 1 draft pick in his NBA debut season.

Wembanyama’s physique and remarkable skill set

What sets Wembanyama apart is the way he uses his remarkable physique, giving him a unique skill set—ball-handling of a point guard, shooting accuracy of a forward, and the movement of a complete player, while also standing at 7 feet 4 inches with a wingspan of 8 feet. Nobody in their right mind would have been able to dream him up, but here he is. His pre-season games have been shaped by his overwhelming presence, contributing to three wins out of four for the Spurs. In just over 20 average minutes on the court, he’s averaging 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks.

Wembanyama doesn’t even need to jump

Born in Le Chesnay, west of Paris, Wembanyama is 19 years old and now weighs around 227 pounds. He’s still extremely lean but has gained nearly 22 pounds of muscle since being drafted, when he officially weighed 207 pounds. With shoes on, his height rises to 7 feet 5 inches. Journalist Brian Windhors explains, “When he lifts the ball, his fingers are just inches from the rim. And that’s with his feet flat on the ground. If he goes up on tiptoes, he could grab the rim without jumping. That’s incredible.”

What shoe size does Wembanyama wear?

As for his shoe size, another frequent question, it’s a US size 22. For the draft gala where he knew the San Antonio Spurs would pick him first—following the likes of David Robinson and Tim Duncan—he had to request special loafers from French brand J. M. Weston. “These are the most challenging shoes we’ve ever had to make,” said the manufacturers, knowing their product would go to a highly touted number 1 draft pick. Wembanyama is the second European ever to achieve this, following Italian Andrea Bargnani in 2006. And he’s the sixth to reach this pinnacle without going through college, joining the ranks of Kwame Brown, Yao Ming, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and again, Bargnani.

In the NBA, players of Wembanyama’s stature have generally not had long careers. Only six players at least 7 feet 4 inches tall have played more than 400 games. Just four have weighed less than Wembanyama throughout NBA history, with at least his height. His challenge is to turn potential weaknesses into strengths and understand what lies ahead in the NBA’s key zones. For now, it appears he’s quite clear on that and has no fear of facing defenders who will likely try to ramp up the physicality against him. “Everyone has their strengths, and I’ve spent my life watching how opponents try to be especially physical against me. It’s been that way every time I’ve stepped on a court in recent years and it certainly doesn’t scare me. Speed overcomes that higher level of physical contact when used correctly. It’s part of the game; I’m used to it.”