Victor Wembanyama: A factor that can jeopardize his NBA career / News - Basketnews.com

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Victor Wembanyama has been described as a once-in-a-lifetime talent and one of the best NBA prospects of all time. That's some pretty high praise for an 18-year-old athlete.

Some are calling Wembanyama the next LeBron James. Born in Le Chesnay, France, he grew up playing basketball in his hometown, and at 18 years old, he's already playing in his country's top professional league.

He recently signed a two-year contract with Metropolitans 92 and is now set to make his debut with the French national team in the upcoming EuroBasket. Last season, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft was a member of LDCL ASVEL Villeurbanne, producing 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13 EuroLeague matches.

Wembanyama averaged 9.4 points (47.3% FG, 26.0% 3PT) and 5.1 rebounds over 18 minutes in the French LNB Pro A this past campaign. The NBA prospect was voted as the French League's Rising Star for the second consecutive season.

In addition to his 2.20 m (7'3) height, Wembanyama has a 2.36 m (7'7) wingspan and a level of agility and quickness that's rare to see in someone his size. He is a versatile player, as a lob threat on offense and an impressive rim protector on defense. He knows how to block shots, hit threes, and make quick passes.

The former LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has all it takes to make a long-lasting and memorable NBA career. However, there's one thing Wembanyama probably would wish he didn't possess to such an extent: his towering height.

Even in a league full of giants, there haven't been many players this tall. Throughout the NBA's 75-year history, there have only been 26 players who were 2.20-meter (7'3) or taller.

Only three of them are currently in the NBA, and only three others have made the Basketball HOF - Arvydas Sabonis at 2.21 m (7'3), Ralph Sampson at 2.24 m (7'4), and Yao Ming at 2.29 m (7'5).

Despite size and length being some of the most valuable assets, being too tall can really become a problem.

At one point, does a player have too much height? JxmyHighroller, an American YouTuber who produces mini basketball documentaries on various subjects of the NBA, provides some answers in a short video.

The threshold appears to be at 2.11m. Any player above that height is bound to have significant, if not career-ending, injuries and health issues due to their size. The history of extremely tall and sustainably great big men is very short.

At a certain point, their height becomes a detriment to their game and their longevity. Only five active players are taller than 2.13 m (7'0), starting with Rudy Gobert at 2.16 m (7'1) and Bol Bol at 2.18 m (7'2), before going even bigger with Kristaps Porzingis (2.21, 7'3), Boban Marjanovic (2.24 m, 7'4) and Tacko Fall (2.29, 7'6). Of the last three, only Porzingis holds a notable NBA resume.

The last player taller than 2.13 m (7'0) to have an important career had been Yao Ming, who enjoyed his last All-Star caliber season nearly 15 years ago and had to retire at the age of 30 because of injuries.

Looking at the percentages of games missed from lottery picks sorted by height since 2000, it's obvious that players up to 2.13 m (7'0) experience injuries at a similar frequency, ranging from 14.3% to 15.1%. However, lottery picks above that number have missed 26.2% of all their potential NBA games.

Wembanyama possesses many physical qualities, but he's still 2.20 m (7'3). Finding a player with this much size is a feat in its own right.

Odds are stacked against him, but if the French prospect stays healthy, he has the opportunity and the skills to become a player, unlike anything the NBA has ever seen.

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