Victor Wembanyama Biography – Age, Career, French League, and Net Worth
Who is Victor Wembanyama?
Victor Wembanyama is a French professional basketball player for Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A.
He is widely projected to be selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft and is considered to be one of the greatest basketball prospects of all time.
Born in Le Chesnay, France, Wembanyama began his professional career with Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A in 2019. Two years later, he moved to ASVEL and won the Pro A title in his only season with the team. In 2022, Wembanyama signed with Metropolitans 92 and assumed a leading role. He has been named an LNB All-Star on two occasions, winning All-Star Game MVP once, and is a two-time LNB Pro A Best Young Player.
Wembanyama plays for the French national basketball team. At the youth level, he has led his team to two silver medals, including at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he set the FIBA record for blocks per game in a single tournament.
Age
Wembanyama was born on 4 January 2004 in Le Chesnay, France. He is 19 years old. His father, Félix, is of Congolese descent and was a track and field athlete who competed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. His mother, Elodie de Fautereau, is a basketball coach and former player. Wembanyama’s father and mother are 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in) and 1.91 metres (6 ft 3 in) tall, respectively. His older sister, Eve, plays basketball professionally, and his younger brother, Oscar, has played basketball and handball at youth level. His grandfather, Michel de Fautereau, played professional basketball, and his grandmother, Marie Christine, also played the sport.
Career
Wembanyama played football as a goalkeeper and practised judo before focusing on basketball. He learned how to play basketball from his mother, who was coaching youth teams. At age seven, Wembanyama began playing for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles, before joining the youth system of Nanterre 92 at age 10.
He drew the attention of Nanterre in 2013 after Michaël Allard, a youth coach for the club, noticed him on the bench at an under-11 game due to his exceptional height, at 1.80 metres (5 ft 11 in), initially mistaking him for a coach. In February 2018, Wembanyama was loaned to FC Barcelona for the Minicopa del Rey, an under-14 tournament in Spain, leading his team to third place. He declined an offer to continue his career with Barcelona, citing that the coaches were not willing to challenge him.
French League
Wembanyama was elected MVP, Best Young Player, Best Defender, Top Scorer, and Best Blocker in the French League.
Following the end of the regular season, the tournament’s best players were awarded and the French phenom captured 5 titles.
First, he was named the MVP of the league after an impressive campaign with Metropolitans 92 where he averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks for 26 PIR. He was the first French player to be selected as the most valuable since Adrien Moerman did in 2015.
Additionally, he was named the Best Young Player, Best Defender, Top Scorer, and Best Blocker. Wembanyama was also selected for the All-LNB First Team.
Overall, he had six trophies in his hands at the end of the award ceremony.
“That’s I wear number 1, it means something to me, I always want to innovate. All these trophies are good but considering that I also have the title of the best youngster, I think it adds value to the rest,” Wemby said. “Individual titles don’t mean much if they don’t help the team win. These trophies are enhanced with second place in the league. If we were relegated, it wouldn’t have been worth much.”
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Net Worth
He is reportedly worth $1.5 million according to CluthPoints.