It took only three seasons for Victor Wembanyama to do exactly what the San Antonio Spurs drafted him for — bring them back to the NBA Finals.
The once proud franchise had fallen on hard times in 2023, going 22-60 and landing the top pick in that year’s draft, where they took the 7’4” phenom out of France.
It paid off instantly with Wembanyama earning unanimous Rookie of the Year honors in his first season as the team began its turnaround. His combination of height, length and skill makes him a talent unlike any the league has seen before, and it goes beyond his already-impressive raw numbers.
But despite a catalog of jaw-dropping plays that should be physically impossible, mystery and intrigue follow Wembanyama off the court. Keep scrolling to get to know the Spurs star who might be on a G.O.A.T. trajectory.
Does Victor Wembanyama Have a Girlfriend?
Despite rumors and social media hoaxes, Wembanyama has not gone public with a romantic partner. In January 2026, a post went viral on Instagram claiming he is dating Khloé Kardashian, but that was quickly debunked.
When the Spurs clinched the Western Conference title on May 30, he was seen giving a quick kiss on the cheek to a woman before leaving the court, but she has not been identified. While some speculated that it could be his girlfriend, it appears she could just as easily be a relative.
Victor Wembanyama Comes From a Family of Athletes
It should be no surprise that someone as athletically gifted as Wembanyama comes from a sports background. Victor’s older sister, Eve, is a professional basketball player in France and his younger brother, Oscar, could also be on his way to the NBA.
Victor’s grandfather, Michel de Fautereau, was a French pro basketball player and his mom, Elodie, was a player and coach. His dad, Félix, was a Congolese track and field star.
In a 2023 appearance on Good Morning America, Victor credited his parents for letting him develop his passion for basketball on his own.
“They really didn’t interfere with my sport,” he said “They let me be how I wanted to be. They made a lot of sacrifices. On the other hand, they’re gonna be able to retire early.”
Victor Wembanyama Is Also an Avid Chess Player
Chess has quietly become a growing hobby among many NBA players and Victor is no exception. Whether it’s playing with fans in New York’s Washington Square Park or challenging Rudy Gobert every time the Spurs face the Minnesota Timberwolves, chess has become a way to shift his focus from basketball when needed.
“I figure it’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Sometimes you just need to get away,” he told ESPN in April. “You don’t have the focus needed to read or the focus needed to study something, so chess is good in that sense.”
Victor Wembanyama Is on a Historic Career Trajectory
Victor is one of those players who seems to do something no one in the NBA has done before at least once a week — and that has continued onto the sport’s biggest stage.
In Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he posted 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks, playing 49 minutes in the Spurs’ double overtime win. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other NBA player to post a stat line that good in the playoffs.
And at that point, Victor was still college-aged and had not completed his third NBA season. It seems the best is yet to come.
Victor Wembanyama Is Not Afraid to Speak Out
Victor has only been in the United States for a few years, but he has shown a willingness to speak out against perceived injustice. In January 2026, he ignored Spurs PR’s wishes and shared his thoughts on ICE’s presence in Minnesota.
“PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct … every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified,” he told reporters after a practice.
He continued, “It’s crazy that some people might make it sound like it’s acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable. I read the news and sometimes I’m asking very deep questions about my own life. But you know, I’m conscious also that saying everything that’s on my mind would have a cost that’s too great for me right now. So I’d rather not get into too many details.”
