Since arriving in San Antonio, we’ve gotten to know Victor Wembanyama on many levels. His maturity and poise were apparent from his first public appearances in North America. In fact, he left quite the impression on current Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick during an interview ahead of the draft.
To quote Redick: “Jason, he’s reached enlightenment.” That was my first moment realizing how special Victor is—not just as a player but as a person. His off-court uniqueness extends to his interests, including drawing, art, and reading. His love for books even led to a meeting with his favourite author, Brandon Sanderson.
For those wondering, I did get to see Wemby play when he came by Utah last month! He made time for us after the game, and was just as gracious and eloquent as everyone says. (Plus, he was awesome to watch play.) What a class act. @wemby pic.twitter.com/gwU71fM9s5
— Brandon Sanderson (@BrandSanderson) April 10, 2024
Fast-forward to November 2024, and Wembanyama’s passion for reading has started influencing his teammates. It’s been reported that Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have formed a book club, which Wemby joined. This might be the first time I’ve ever heard of NBA players bonding over books! While it’s an unusual concept for athletes, it makes perfect sense. They spend much of the year on the road with downtime to fill.
Wembanyama’s involvement isn’t surprising, given his love for literature. For veterans like Barnes and Paul—who are married with kids—the road isn’t about nightlife anymore, so a book club offers a refreshing way to connect.
This book club is an intriguing development, and I wonder if they’ll get younger players to join. Imagine walking into a Barnes & Noble and seeing a recommendation section inspired by the Spurs’ book club—it’s not such a far-fetched idea. I, for one, am curious to see how this evolves throughout the year.
For the third straight game, fans are missing out on seeing the Alien on the court. According to reporter Matthew Tynan, Victor Wembanyama is sidelined with a deep knee bruise. While it’s being handled with precaution, there’s optimism that the French phenom will return when the Spurs host the Warriors on Saturday night.
Spoke briefly with a Spurs staffer who said Victor’s knee bruise is deep, and was the kind of injury that felt worse the next day than it did the night it happened. He’s doing fine but they’re not gonna push it. https://t.co/7XuSPeiyJ7
— Matthew Tynan (@Matthew_Tynan) November 21, 2024
In Wembanyama’s absence, the Spurs have still been surprisingly enjoyable to watch. Veterans like Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have provided leadership, transforming the team into a more competitive and entertaining squad. Rookie Sephon Castle has also turned heads with his promising start to his NBA career. The improved supporting cast has been crucial, evidenced by Wembanyama’s impressive +13 plus/minus when he’s on the court this season.
Ahead of the 2023 draft, Adrian Wojnarowski speculated that drafting Wembanyama could add $500 million in value to the team. Fast-forward a year and a half, and the city of San Antonio is revamping its downtown with the ambitious Project Marvel. While it’s not fair to say Wemby is solely responsible, his undeniable impact has surely helped propel the city’s vision forward.
The Spurs’ current starting lineup is ranked among the league’s best, and it’s exciting to see the team trending in the right direction.
Speaking of excitement, did you know the Spurs will be featured in a Disney alternative cast for their Christmas Day matchup against the New York Knicks? This broadcast will debut AI-generated “NB-AI” players—an intriguing first for the NBA!
This post was originally published on here
