Victor Wembanyama is a rare find in the NBA. His amazing physique positions him for unprecedented stardom. Nonetheless, Victor is the latest in a long line of Wembanyama family members to become professional athletes.
Both of his parents, as well as his grandparents, were athletes. Wemby’s siblings are also descendants of the family. Here’s what we know so far:
Victor Wembanyama was born in the French town of Le Chesnay
Victor Wembanyama was born in Le Chesnay, a small village in Paris’ western suburbs, on January 4, 2004. Before focusing on his future career, he played soccer (mainly as a goalkeeper), track and field, and judo in addition to basketball.
As Wembanyama ascended through the ranks, word of his remarkable abilities spread swiftly. Bouna Ndiaye of Comsport, Victor’s current agent, knew Wembanyama’s parents for years after his mother, Elodie de Fautereau, coached Ndiaye’s son. Ndiaye, on the other hand, learned about the youthful phenom via local scouts.
His agent, who also represents French NBA players Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, and Nicolas Batum, said he wasn’t used to seeing athletes at such a young age. He could see, however, that this was a player with the ability to exceed French superstars such as Tony Parker.
“I first heard about him when he was 12 years old.” “I waited until he was 14 and saw an artist [in him] at a tournament in Créteil,” he told Slam Magazine. “He just played the game with ease — no-look passes, being a creator, no pressure, no position, three-pointers — he was everywhere.” It was a pleasure to witness.”
Parents of Victor Wembanyama
The Wembanyamas never set out to become the most touted prospect since LeBron James. However, Victor’s parents used their occupations to ensure that their child was well-prepared for the world of sports from an early age.
Felix Wembanyama, of Congolese heritage, was a 6-foot-6 field athlete who participated in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump during his best. He taught Victor how to run effectively and how to pay attention to details. “Dad gave me the passion for knowing subjects in depth,” the No. 1 choice in 2023 said in the Slam article, “being a real technician of sports, of whatever I do.”
Elodie was a 6-foot-3 basketball player before becoming a coach. Despite being one of Victor’s first coaches, she did not impose herself on his development, which he values for the flexibility it provided.
“She teaches basketball to very young players, like 4 to 10 or something.” But I never trained with her for performance,” Wembanyama revealed on the Euroleague’s official website. “It’s not that she doesn’t want to be a part of my performance; she just knows what her role is.” You understand what I mean? And she understands that as a parent, it is often preferable to fade away or not get too involved in your children’s lives.”
The relatives of Victor Wembanyama
A love of sports runs much deeper in the Wembanyama family line. Michel De Fautereau, Victor’s grandpa, was a 6-foot-7 center who played for Paris University Club in the 1960s. His grandmother, Marie Christine, was also a basketball player.
His siblings are all basketball players. Victor’s older sister Eve is a professional basketball player who most recently represented Monaco and France in 3-on-3 basketball. In 2017, she won gold with the national team in the FIBA U16 European Championships. Oscar, their younger brother, plays for ASVEL, one of Victor’s former teams.
The Wembanyamas are a unique family, but Victor stands out. According to appearances, he’s digested his reputation as a generational talent worth millions of dollars without allowing the game to consume him completely. Even if you come from a hooper household, basketball is not life. When Ndiaye first saw Wemby, he had the same impression of him.
“I asked Victor what kind of player he envisioned himself to be. “He replied, ‘I want to be me, Victor Wembanyama,'” he remembered. “I adored it…It means he understands who he is. Victor enjoys life just as much as he enjoys basketball. He enjoys drawing, nice eating, and is well-educated. That is very essential to me; you cannot be solely focused on basketball – it is unhealthy.”