Victor Wembanyama adds to historic NBA start as Spurs star with $55m contract chases first ring
Victor Wembanyama is almost unstoppable right now.
The 2025-26 NBA campaign is five months old and the San Antonio Spurs superstar keeps smashing records.
Wemby is new brilliant face of the NBA
The French native became the first player in NBA history to record 100 points and 15 blocks in the first three games of the regular season, posting incredible stat lines against the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets.
Wemby then poured in 38 points and 16 rebounds as the Spurs downed the Detroit Pistons 121-106 and improved to 45-17 this season.
“Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years, well, he’s more like an alien,” LeBron James said in 2022. “I’ve never seen — no one’s ever seen — anyone as tall as he is, but as fluid and as graceful on the floor.”
San Antonio only trails the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference, while the 22-year-old is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks during his third pro season.
Wemby’s magic, of course, is no secret these days — and he is ranked as one of the best players in basketball.
After being drafted by the Spurs as the No.1 pick in 2023, he was named the NBA‘s Rookie of the Year, and followed that up with All-Star honors in 2025.
Wemby also led The Association in blocks across his first two seasons, even though he was prematurely shut down in his second.
To the delight of fans, but the despair of rivals, he looks better than ever to begin Year 3 as San Antonio chase their first NBA Championship since 2014.
Below, talkSPORT breaks down everything you need to know about basketball’s hottest prospect.
How tall is Wembanyama and what is his wingspan?
In a roster update ahead of the 2025-26 season, San Antonio listed Wemby at 7ft 4in and 235lbs.
That measurement makes him the joint-tallest player in the NBA, alongside Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Wembanyama also boasts the longest wingspan in the league too.
That is the measurement of a player’s reach from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other when their arms are stretched out to their sides.
‘The Alien’ checks in with an 8ft wingspan, ahead of Edey’s 7ft 11in reach. Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the third-longest wingspan in the NBA, at 7ft 9in.
The longest wingspan in NBA history belongs to Manute Bol and measures 8ft 6in.
What is Wembanyama’s contract and how much money does he make?
When he entered the NBA, Wemby signed a four-year, $55 million rookie contract with the Spurs.
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Almost $25m of that is guaranteed, and he earns an average annual salary of just under $13.8m.
He is set to make much more once that deal expires.
Starting in the 2026 offseason, Wemby will be eligible to sign a five-year, $271m rookie extension. That would kick in for the 2027-28 season.
If the Spurs star is named MVP, DPOY or to one of the three All-NBA teams in 2026-27, his extension would increase to $326m.
What is Wembanyama’s shoe size and how does he compare to other NBA icons?
Before he entered the NBA as a rookie, it was reported that Wembanyama wore a size 20.5 shoe (size 55 in Europe).
According to Sports Illustrated, Shaquille O’Neal, Bob Lanier and Taco Fall are the only players in NBA history to wear a larger shoe (size 22).
What brand deals and endorsements does Wembanyama have?
Wemby was said to have inked a mega-money deal with Nike, valued at more than $100m, before he even stepped foot on the NBA court.
Little is known publicly about the numbers behind his deal with the company. But last year, Nike revealed his ‘Alien’ logo that has since been applied to player-exclusive colorways.
Wemby is also a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, the French luxury fashion house, and has multi-million dollar deals with the likes of Fanatics and 2K Sports.
Where did Wembanyama grow up and where did he play before joining the NBA?
Wemby was born and raised in France, growing up in Le Chesnay, one hour away from Paris.
Sporting excellence runs in the family, as his dad, Félix, was a track and field athlete who competed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Wemby’s mom, Elodie de Fautereau, is a French basketball coach and former player herself. She helped teach her son the game, and shaped him into the generational talent he has since become.
Before entering the NBA Draft, a teenage Wembanyama played professional basketball in France, and became the second-youngest person to feature in the EuroCup when he made his debut for Nanterre 92 at 15 years, nine months and 25 days old.
He went on to play in the EuroLeague with ASVEL and later joined Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A for the 2022-23 season.
Wemby declared for the NBA Draft at the conclusion of that campaign and the rest, as they say, is history.
He’s dominating the league in 2025-26 and the 7-4 big man from France is only getting started.
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