By james art Victory Uembanyama has already established himself as one of the most promising young talents in the league. The sophomore from France completed a historic rookie season by winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and leading the French basketball team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. With growing buzz behind Wemby, an NBA legend Gilbert Arenas revealed why he sees similarities between Tiger Woods and Wembanyama.
Arenas and crew headed to Gils Arena podcast to discuss who they think is the next face of the league based on star marketability. While many names were thrown around, like Ja Morant and Anthony EdwardsArenas revealed that he believes Victor Wembanyama is ready to be the next face of the NBA.
Arenas drew comparisons between the poise and business know-how of Tiger Woods and Wembey. He said:
I’m going with Frenchy. His manners; as if he already knows the business. Reminds me of Tiger Woods. He is in an upgraded, more prestigious Bougie type. Ant-Man can walk into Nobu. But Wemby’s Nobu is black-only, with only 12 people entering. There are things that will be given to Wemby that no one else can get.
said Gilbert Arenas on his podcast
“[Wemby] already knows the business…he reminds me of a Tiger Woods type.
Arena debates the marketability of Wemby vs. Ja Morant and Ant Edwards. pic.twitter.com/kYI2FOyn8M
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) October 26, 2024
Victor Wembanyama has already become one of the most globally recognizable superstars in the NBA. The French phenom drew attention from around the world even before he was drafted to the NBA, thanks to his extraordinary skills and size. Arenas’ comparisons between Wembey and Tiger Woods seem apt given not only the levels of talent the two possess, but also the business acumen.
Tiger Woods is currently only the second active billionaire athlete, aside from LeBron Jamess. Woods is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, but his endorsements off the course, particularly with Nike, have turned the athlete into a billionaire and the face of the sport.
Wembanyama possesses some of the same insight. In his first year in the league, he secured brand endorsements from Nike and Louis Vuitton, among others. Wemby’s deal with Nike is reportedly worth almost $100 million. With his high marketability and strong cultural influence, Wembanyama seems poised to emerge as the next face of the NBA, at least according to Gilbert Arenas.
Victor Wembanyama reveals his ‘big three’ rivals to root for
Victor Wembanyama took the league by storm in his debut season, delivering poster after poster on every team’s star. As he enters his second season, the French big man is looking to up the ante and target the big dogs. In an interview with CBS Sports, Victor Wembanyama revealed the three players in the league he would like to sink. His response?
Top guards would be the biggest challenge… So I would say Rudy, Kawhi and third would be Jonathan Isaac. i think [Isaac’s] really, really underrated defenseer.
Victor Wembanyama said in the interview
Wembey chose his fellow Frenchman Rudy Gober, Kawhi Leonard and the Orlando Magic Jonathan Isaac as defenders he would most like to nail. And he had pretty good reasons for choosing all three. Wembey stated that dunking the best defenders in the league would be the most difficult challenge and therefore his pickups.