Victor Wembanyama is NBA’s best young player since LeBron James and can lead Spurs to championship

Victor Wembanyama is almost unstoppable right now.

As the ‘Alien’ keeps evolving and adding to his young legacy, the red-hot San Antonio Spurs clinched the Western Conference’s No.2 seed with a 62-20 record and have made the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 NBA season.

getty

The evolution and legacy of Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama recently became the first player in the last 40 NBA seasons with more than 4,000 points and 600 blocks before turning 23-years-old.

He also collected the third-fastest double-double since 1997-98 while scoring a season-high 41 points and grabbing 16 rebounds as the Spurs improved to 57-18.

“Just figuring out some stuff,” Wembanyama said. “Felt like I needed my offense to get back to a certain level but that shouldn’t be at the cost of a defense, either.”

With the 2025-26 regular season in the rear view mirror and a first-round playoff series against the seventh-seed Portland Trail Blazers up next, Wemby is a legit MVP candidate and rivals Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the best player in the league.

The face of the Spurs is also the NBA’s best young player since LeBron James and mirroring The King’s stunning rise in the league.

Wemby’s magic 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 up that honor with an All-Star selection in 2025.

Wemby also led The Association in blocks across his first two seasons, even though he was prematurely shut down in his second campaign while dealing with deep vein thrombosis.

Below talkSPORT breaks down everything you need to know about the NBA’s hottest new name.

Getty

Wembanyama’s wingspan vs NBA legends

In a roster update ahead of the 2025-26 season, San Antonio listed Wemby at 7ft 4in and 235lb.

That measurement makes him the co-tallest player in the NBA, alongside Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Wembanyama also boasts the longest wingspan in the league (8ft), which allows the Spurs big man to float freely from the paint to the perimeter and back, barely having to jump to dunk a basketball and blocking shots with surreal ease.

Fast-break slams, top-of-the-key 3-pointers, touch passes in the paint, pick-and-pop jumpers and soft floaters in the lane are all the norm with Wemby.

“I’m a competitor, so I want to go at everyone and be the bad guy on the court,” he said.

“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.”

How much money does Wemby make?

When he entered the NBA, Wemby signed a four-year, $55 million rookie contract with the Spurs.

NBA's Greatest

Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama

Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone

10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus

Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals

Almost $25m of that is guaranteed, and he earns an average annual salary of just under $13.8m.

He is set to significantly expand his bank account once that initial deal expires.

Starting in the 2026 offseason, Wemby will be eligible to sign a five-year, $271m rookie extension, which would kick in for the 2027-28 season.

If the Spurs star is named MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or to one of the three All-NBA teams in 2026-27, his extension amount 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).

Getty

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 an 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 Fanatics and 2K Sports.

Wembanyama’s French basketball roots

Wemby was born and raised in France, growing up in Le Chesnay, one hour away from Paris.

Sporting excellence runs in the family. His dad, Félix, was a track and field athlete who competed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

getty

Wemby’s mom, Elodie de Fautereau, is a French basketball coach and former player. 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 is contemporary history.

He’s dominating the league in 2025-26 and the 7-4 phenom from France is only getting started.

“He’s his own player, own person,” Kevin Durant said. “He’s going to create his own lane and is much different than anyone else who has played.”

Stay up to date with the latest from the NBA across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.