Who Is Oscar Wembanyama? Meet Victor Wembanyama's Talented Brother

By Edcel Panganiban September 09, 2024 09:54

Photo by Sarah Stier/GettyImages

Oscar Wembanyama was born in Versailles, France, on March 18th of 2007. Wembanyama has a background deeply connected to sports, and his parents, Félix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau have always been vocal about promoting fitness. Hailing from Le Chesnay, France, the Wembanyama family has always loved sports, and their home is practically a shrine to basketball.

Oscar was surrounded by sport from a very young age. Before he turned to basketball, Oscar played handball, a French pastime and one of the sports where the nation often lands medals at international championships. The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed his switch to basketball, shaking up his routine and pushing him to try new challenges. Oscar has said over the years that he was motivated into playing basketball by boredom during COVID-19 and a decision that appears to be paying early dividends.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wembanyama oscar (@osc_wemba)

Career Highlights

Oscar might just be 17-years-old, but he's already garnered a lot of recognition in the basketball circuit. He's now a member of the LDLC ASVEL U-21 team in France, and his skills continue to improve, so it seems he has potential. Oscar stands 6'8 "and pairs his physical dimensions with basketball skills, making him a tough player to guard against.

No single performance on the track or court stood out to Oscar more than a standout effort in one of his games with France - Betclic Elite U21 Drew league, where he put up career highs across several categories. In a performance that displayed an ability to do it all on the basketball court and offered hope for his professional prospects, he set career highs in points (22), rebounds (10), assists (6), steals (3) and blocks on Dec. 20, 2023.

Comparisons with Victor

Given their shared family basketball backgrounds, there will always be comparisons with his older brother Victor. Already an NBA headliner, the imposing Victor is a phenomenon largely due to how well he works for one after another basketball comparisons.

Oscar's agility and instincts are features that align with his physical attributes. Victor is the dominant force on the court, muscling his way to a result, whereas Oscar plays more of a finesse game plan. The two brothers deeply love the game, but their methods exemplify their inherent strengths and how they can impact the sport on a massive level.

Future Prospects

Oscar hones his craft daily, and the hoops world eagerly awaits what's in store next. According to his current trajectory, he's on a similar path that could lead him into the NBA like Victor. There has been speculation as to Oscar's draft prospects, with some saying 2026 or '27 at best.

In the short term, he'll play and develop with LDLC ASVEL U21 team, playing some youth leagues that will expose him to higher levels of competition while sharpening up what looks like a bright NBA prospect. He wants to make a difference professionally, and potentially, working the road with his brother in the NBA.