Lessons Learned from the Feet of French Phenom Victor Wembanyama

How a person comes to learn about a professional athlete isn't always through sport. Perhaps they are the son or daughter of a sports legend. Maybe they star in a music video or movie. Occasionally their name is included in the lyrics of a song. Sometimes it's in a brush with fame or winning a prestigious award and title. Such is the case for Victor Wembanyama. No matter the path toward which you have seen, heard or read about the 7'4" Center/Power Forward from France, it's not just his fame that can teach us a lesson in Sports and Spirituality, I think his feet can, too.

Wemby has an 8 foot wingspan

Taken as the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Wembanyama—known as Wemby—participated in the Las Vegas summer league prior to the regular NBA season. Pop music fans may have learned about him through an unfortunate encounter outside a restaurant on the Strip.

Wembanyama made headlines when Britney Spears, “decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success” outside a restaurant. Allegedly, Spears tapped him on the shoulder. Wemby and his security team claim otherwise. According to the 41 year old pop icon, a member of his security team “back handed me in the face,” knocking her glasses off. 

No doubt Spears and Wemby get swarmed by fans on a regular basis. Rather than standing in a place of solidarity, she operated from a space of unbridled enthusiasm. To be honest, I can relate. As adults, yes, you would think we can keep ourselves in check but sports fans (and I don't know that Spears is) push personal limits on the regular. It can't be easy.

Where we stand and how we stand are important. Wemby kept walking. His security team did not. They reacted. The outcome could have been different. No harm, no foul? yes and no right?

In the past week, Victor Wembanyama was named Rookie of the Year for the 2023-2024 season, receiving all 99 first-place votes to become the sixth unanimous ROY, joining Ralph Sampson (1983-84), David Robinson (1989-90), Blake Griffin (2010-11), Damian Lillard (2012-13) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2015-16).

A  unanimous choice, Yahoo Sports writes that he "lived up to the outrageous hype, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and a league-best 3.6 blocks in just 29.7 minutes per game for the Spurs."

Barker adds, "Watching Wemby is mesmerizing... No other player can do what he does on the court. His numbers, while elite, don't do justice to how utterly spectacular he was at times, flashing unlimited potential while routinely making plays that made you say to yourself, "How?" He is a generational talent worth paying attention to and learning from.

In a one-on-one interview for Good Morning America, Robin Roberts met with Wemby in Paris. Her conversation from June 2023, served as another introduction of the French phenom. Roberts says, "Your pre-game warm-ups are crucial to avoid injury. Your athletic trainers—there is something I read about the way they get you prepped. You take off your shoes and socks and you crawl?"

He replies "Having your feet actually connected to the ground is really important as a basketball player because it gets the the feet stronger. If your feet are strong you can then get better on every other aspect of your body." 

Our feet help us to stand. Where and how we stand is essential. The development of firm footing is not to be taken for granted. Removing our shoes put us in direct contact with the ground. Our toes, our feet can tell us about the surface. It is smooth and steady? Or is it uneven or uncomfortable?  Crawling is the first step toward walking on two feet. It's not always that comfortable. Why? We have to shift our balance. We must let go of what we already know and remind ourselves of fundamental and foundational exercises.

I find Wemby's pre-game warm-up to be a spiritual practice. How? Why?  Spirituality is about understanding and awareness.We don't do that in the abstract alone. While prayer or reflection, meditation or silence and well known spiritual practices, our bodies can engage as well. I believe holistic participation can yield a deepened appreciation. 

To consider how we are connected to the ground is a metaphor for the spiritual life. By paying attention to my feet and their grounding, I am invited in a new way to consider what else in my life brings stability and meaning. For so many Religion is a rooting; my Catholic faith gives me a place to stand. But it also allows me to give space to others and to understanding their beliefs. I am better for knowing the roots of my own beliefs and how or why others see differently. This can lead to solidarity which can be one thing to know and another to live out.

In but a year's time Victor Wembanyama has afforded sports fans and spiritual ones, much to consider. Merci beaucoup and Congratulations on your award

Photo Credits
Coach
Spiritual Roots
Wing Span