The NBA season begins Tuesday night, but much of the attention is focused on the following night, when the San Antonio Spurs play the Dallas Mavericks. Why? In a word, Wemby. More precisely, Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 teenage rookie. Even those who don't follow the league will likely be unable to fully escape what NPR calls "Wembymania."
- About him: Wembanyama is a 19-year-old from France who has an 8-foot wingspan to go along with his 7-4 frame. He is hyped as a generational talent, with the buzz around him matching that of LeBron James 20 years ago, per NPR. His new home of San Antonio is banking on the teen to return the team to its former glory.
- The hype: Consider that in his NBA predictions for this year, Brad Botkin of CBS Sports is not only predicting that Wembanyama will be rookie of the year, but that he will become the first in NBA history to be named defensive player of the year as a rookie. The main reason is Wembanyama's extraordinary ability to disrupt shots and dribbles with that enormous wingspan.
- Bizarre example: Video from the Dallas Morning News is in circulation showing an assistant coach for the Mavericks trying to prep his players to face Wembanyama. He did so by attaching long pads to his arms to fend off their shots while shouting "Wemby" to remind them of what's ahead, per Sports Illustrated. Watch the clip here.