Victor Wembanyama didn’t simply have a incredible rookie season on the ground but additionally off it. The rookie dazzled along with his play however received as many compliments for his maturity as he did for his highlights. Wemby is a peaceful, assured man who appears to even be a pure chief.
There have been a number of anecdotes that paint Victor as not solely a particular participant but additionally a particular individual, and a brand new one dropped lately. Within the “7 p.m. In Brooklyn With Child Mero and Carmelo Anthony” podcast, JJ Redick instructed a narrative about Wembanyama refusing to leap on stage with Drake as a result of his teammates weren’t invited.
All the video deserves a watch, however the part that begins at 2:45 is essentially the most fascinating half, when Redick tells the anecdote:
“The tales I heard from the Spurs’ camp. Like, even early within the season the place he was getting requested — there was a Drake live performance in Austin and he received requested to come back up on stage, ‘trigger Drake was doing that with a bunch of NBA guys this offseason. And Wemby was like ‘Can my teammates come up on stage with me? As a result of they’ll be on the live performance with me.’ And Drake’s camp was like ´No.’ And he was like ´Then I don’t need to do it.’ What 19-year-old child doesn’t need to go up on stage with Drake? There have been anomalies amongst star gamers in that they’ve been low upkeep — I used to be a job participant and I might describe myself as considerably low upkeep. There’s like, Steph (Curry) and there’s, like, Tim Duncan. Wemby is a kind of guys.”
It’s a enjoyable little story that exhibits how a lot Wemby cares about his friends. It’s additionally fascinating as a result of the live performance Redick mentions probably occurred in September when Wemby barely knew his teammates. If the anecdote is true — and there’s no cause to doubt Redick, who interviewed Wemby earlier than the season and clearly has connections within the NBA — it exhibits simply how conscious Wembanyama was of how his actions could be perceived even earlier than entering into an NBA court docket.
Wemby has carried out a incredible job of changing into the face of a franchise and one of many faces of the league in a short while, exhibiting feelings and candor whereas additionally avoiding drama and battle. If he continues to be as regular off the ground as he’s been on it, he’ll earn his place subsequent to the superstars that Redick mentions and can make Spurs followers completely happy for years to come back.
