As the latest in a long line of generational NBA superstars, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama carries a lot of weight on his shoulders. In just three seasons in the NBA, Wembanyama has already proven himself as one of the best players in the game, and he's experiencing the best and worst of the superstar lifestyle.
In a recent media interview, Wembanyama gave us a glimpse into his world and what kind of legacy he wants to set for himself. So far, the experience has been everything Victor imagined, and he wants to do his part to make it even better.
"As an NBA player, if you're among the stars of this league, you can really make your career anything you want to make it. On the court, you're always going to do the best that you can – but on the side, you can choose to be an influencer, a philanthropist, the guy who is going to promote gambling and alcohol. It's everything that I imagined," said Wembanyama on 60 Minutes .
"My choice isn't final because I'm still growing as a person, but I want to promote healthy things. Healthy habits, things that make people's lives better. In the future, things that make society better, hopefully."
Victor was fortunate enough to get drafted by the Spurs, a franchise with a rich history of winning, known for playing elite, team-oriented basketball. From David Robinson to Tim Duncan , the Spurs have known many stars, and Victor Wembanyama has the potential to surpass them all. At this stage of his career, anything seems possible, and he's determined to lead the franchise to another era of success ( in the form of multiple championships ).
"It feels like we're in a new era of the Spurs," Wembanyama added . "There have been different moments over the years, and now we have a young core and shouldn't be a lottery team any time soon. We're in a new era, and it feels like the fandom for the Spurs deserves a new era."
Fresh off a loss in the NBA Finals ( a performance that still haunts him ), Victor knows it will take time to reach the pinnacle of basketball success. After all, Michael Jordan didn't win his first title until he was 28. LeBron was 27. That's why Victor (22) is moving with patience this season, even as he actively looks to prove the doubters wrong.
"The best thing to do is to have patience while still trying to fight it. You're trying to take all the lessons that patience can bring you while trying to prove it wrong at the same time," Wembanyama said . "There's no reason I would wait."
With averages of 25.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 4.0 blocks on 46.9% shooting through seven games, Victor is currently having his best season yet, and it's powered the Spurs to a 5-2 start. Now, with the Thunder out of the picture , it's the perfect opportunity for San Antonio to right their wrongs and make up for last season's failures.
By doing so, Victor would set himself on a track rarely seen in the NBA before. It just goes to show how special Victor's game truly is, and how comfortable he's gotten in San Antonio, where he's enjoying everything that comes with being the face of the franchise.
