NBA 2023: 224cm Victor Wembanyama is an all around player who could be the NBA’s next big thing after LeBron James

If you haven’t already heard of Victor Wembanyama, you’re about to. And if you’re anything like the rest of us, you won’t believe your eyes.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 02: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs poses for photographs during San Antonio Media Day at 21 Spurs Lane on October 2, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ronald Cortes/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ronald Cortes / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Everything about him is big.

He stands at 224cm (7’4”). His wingspan is 240cm (8’) across. His hands are so big he can grip a basketball with just two fingers and makes a baseball look like a grape.

When he reaches for the basket those fingertips are a mere 4cm short of the 10-foot rim with his size 20.5 shoes still firmly planted on the ground.

If you haven’t already heard of Victor Wembanyama, you’re about to. And if you’re anything like the rest of us, you won’t believe your eyes.

The 19-year-old from Paris has been dubbed the NBA’s ‘next big thing’ — the best prospect since LeBron James was plucked out of high school in 2003.

Victor Wembanyama is 224cm (7’4”) with a wingspan of 240cm across. Picture: Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

NBA-obsessed kids in Australia have started taking notice. As soon as he was drafted by San Antonio as the top pick in June, retailers have been inundated with requests for his No. 1 Spurs singlet.

“We had kids coming in all wanting Wemby stuff,” says Jasmine, manager of the Sydney NBA Store.

“We didn’t even have any stock at that point but we can make our own and he’s definitely one of the most popular. They’ve been flying off the shelves.”

When he steps onto an NBA court for the first time this Thursday he will be among the tallest in a game already full of giants.

But this kid is different. He can dominate around the basket like a centre but has the footwork, dribbling, passing and shooting skills of a guard.

In his pre-season debut against Aussie Josh Giddey’s Oklahoma City Thunder two weeks ago, he shot three-pointers, blocked shots, threw pinpoint passes and dunked the ball with ease. On Thursday against Houston, he stole the ball, ‘nutmegged’ a defender before flipping a no-look pass. In years to come he could be the game’s most unstoppable scorer — and its most intimidating defender.

Victor Wembanyama's size 20.5 shoes compared to a regular person's size 13s

Nike, who signed him to a multi-year deal as a teen, dubbed him ‘The Extraterrestrial’.

‘Alien’ does seems to be the first word that comes to mind for most, including LeBron who has seen his share of next big things in the past.

“Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years, but (Wembanyama) is more like an alien,” James said. “No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor. At 7’4”, 7’5”, 7’3”, whatever the case may be, his ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot step back jumpers out of the post, step back threes, catch-and-shoot threes, block shots, he’s for sure a generational talent.”

Golden State sharpshooter Steph Curry described him as the type of player you might create in a video game — “cheat-code type vibes, man”.

When San Antonio opened up a training session to fans two week ago, 13,200 people queued around the block to get in. Their first pre-season game drew 17,214 through the gates with courtside seats going for $US6000 a pop.

American TV executives are desperate to get in on the act. Last season, the struggling Spurs were played on national TV just once. This season it will be 19 times. ESPN, who will broadcast his NBA debut on Thursday in Australia, call it ‘The Wemby Effect’.

When the Olympics begin in Paris next year, their hometown boy will be photographed as often as the Eiffel Tower.

All of this is perfect timing for the sport given superstar LeBron James is playing in his 21st season as a soon-to-be 39-year-old. When LeBron goes, Wemby can step into his shoes. Not that they’ll fit.

Originally published as NBA 2023: 224cm Victor Wembanyama is an all around player who could be the NBA’s next big thing after LeBron James