A rising French NBA star captures American hearts

Victor Wembanyama, at 22 years old, is part of the cream of the crop in the NBA. Named the Rookie of the Year in 2024 for his debut season with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was drafted in the first position, a historic first for a French player, the 7’4″ center nicknamed “the alien” is a contender for the regular season MVP award – another unprecedented feat in the league’s history.

✨ Batum shares the madness surrounding Wembanyama in the United States

“He is a superstar here. Every morning, you turn on the TV and there is a segment about him. It’s literally every day! Celebrities come just for him. I don’t know if people in France realize it” pic.twitter.com/HXkDYFErCz

— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) April 12, 2026

«Des stars viennent juste parce qu’on le joue lui»

Whether it’s John Legend or other American celebrities, they flock to basketball arenas when Victor Wembanyama comes to town with his San Antonio Spurs teammates, as Batum confirmed on RMC this Sunday during the Stephen Brunch. «He’s a star here, he’s a star. I don’t really think people in France realize it. I saw him twice in three weeks in a city like Los Angeles where stars come just because he’s playing. In the United States, there is a Wemby Mania that far surpasses the recognition he has in his home country of France.