Victor Wembanyama entered into the NBA like no other player ever. The young prodigy is quickly set apart by his towering 7'4" frame. What makes him unique is his fusion of centre-like size and guard-like ball-handling skills, as well as his ability to smoothly pull up for a shot off the dribble. Prior to his NBA debut, Wembanyama had a strong inkling about being destined for the NBA. Apart from living up to the enormous hype around him, he actively pursued endorsement deals with various companies, adding to his net worth at an early age.

After being selected number 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA drafts, Victor Wembanyama inked a substantial four-year contract with the franchise. His deal amounts to a whopping $55,174,766, which includes a guaranteed sum of $24,929,640. For the upcoming 2023-24 season, Wemby will pocket a base salary of $12,160,680, with a cap hit of the same amount. Overall, as of now, Wembanyama's net worth hovers around the vicinity of $1.5 million. However, in the months or perhaps even early years to come, we can anticipate a rapid and substantial surge in his net worth.

Victor Wembanyama Early Life

Victor Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France. Known to make waves in the NBA, Wembanyama's journey to basketball was not a direct one. Victor Wembanyama was once rooted in football, mostly guarding the goalposts as a goalkeeper. Furthermore, he also delved into the world of judo. However, through nurturing by his mother, Wembanayama found his calling. Victor began his basketball journey with Entente Le Chesnay Versailles at age 7. he then joined Nanterre 92's youth system at the age of 10. At the time, he stood at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters), making him being noticed early by scouts.?

Fast forward to 2018, Wembanyama made a brief leap for FC Barcelona for the Minicopa del Rey, securing a commendable third place. Despite setting his feet into the format, Victor did not see coaching potential and declined the offer to continue his career there.?

In 2019?20, Victor took his first step with the Nanterre 92 senior squad under the guidance of head coach Pascal Donnadieu. However, he could only feature in two games. This was because Wembanyama was primarily focused on competing in the French U21 league - LNB Espoirs. He also represented its U18 team.

In 2020, Wemby stepped up for the Adidas Next Generation Tournament with Nanterre's under-18 team. He posted an incredible stat line of 15.8 points, 12 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and six blocks per game, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Further, Wembanyama split time between Nanterre's senior and under-21 teams.

In June 2021, Wembanyama signed a three-year deal with ASVEL in the Pro A and the EuroLeague. Soon, he became Pro A Best Young Player and runner-up for the EuroLeague Rising Star award. In July 2022, he joined Metropolitans 92 due to coach Vincent Collet's ability to develop young talents. His reputation soared in October 2022 in games against the NBA G League Ignite, where he gained attention from American media.?

Victor Wembanyama's family and personal life

Signifying his natural passion for basketball, Wembanyama was born to a couple deeply rooted in sports. His father, F?lix, a Congolese athlete, once soared through track and field events. He mastered the high jump, long jump, and triple jump elements over his tenure. On the other hand, Elodie de Fautereau, his mother, radiates a passion similar to her son: basketball. She was an excellent player and shined as a basketball coach as well.?

The secret to Wembanyama's frame comes from his parents. His father stands at 6'6 inches (1.98 meters) and his mother at 6'3 inches (1.91 meters). Wembanyama's parents passed on the athletic genes. Apart from his parents, Wembanaya also has a sister and a brother, Eve and Oscar, respectively.?

When it comes to sports, the passion runs deep in the family. Similar to Wembanyama, his sister has managed to carve out a professional career in basketball for herself. Furthermore, his younger brother has a soft spot for basketball as well as handball. Going past his direct family, Wembanyama's grandfather and grandmother were notable basketball players themselves. Michel de Fautereau (grandfather) and Marie Christine (grandmother) both made a name for themselves in professional aspects of the sport.

Victor Wembanyama NBA Career

On June 22, 2023, Wemby made headlines for becoming a historic selection for the San Antonio Spurs. The moment marks several milestones, as Wembanyama became the first French player ever to be drafted as the first overall pick. Further, he became only the second European to achieve this feat. Additionally, he is now on the prestigious list of Spurs' first-overall picks, including David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Voctor Wembanyama's investment and endorsements

Victor Wembanyama has been shaking up the traditional athlete-endorsement relationship. Recently, he joined forces with Barcode, a performance drink company founded by Mubarak Malik, former performance director for the Lakers and Knicks; along with Wizards player Kyle Kuzma. Due to the young age of the company, Wembanyama has equity in Barcode.?

Additionally, Wembanyama holds three other endorsement deals: Nike, 2K, and Fanatics. Further, there are hints that a TV campaign with Nike is in works.