Victor Wembanyama’s Height Controversy: Is the Spurs Rookie Still Growing?
The NBA’s young superstar Victor Wembanyama is growing at an incredible pace – both in basketball skills and literally. Already the tallest player in the league, he’s reportedly gotten even taller according to his team.
Official Height Update: 7’5″ and Counting
The San Antonio Spurs announced that Victor now stands at 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm), a full two inches taller than his listed height during his debut season (221 cm). This measurement would place him among the five tallest players in NBA history.
However, there’s some confusion as both the team and league websites currently list him at 7’4″. This discrepancy highlights the NBA’s measurement history – before the 2019-20 season, players were measured in shoes, while current measurements are taken without footwear.
The Science Behind Height Fluctuations
Could 224 cm be his barefoot measurement while 226 cm represents his height in shoes? Or perhaps the difference reflects natural daily variations – human spines compress throughout the day, losing several centimeters, then stretching back during sleep.
Former tallest player Boban Marjanović, who stands at 7’4″ (224 cm), expressed skepticism about Wembanyama’s official numbers: “I look up at Wembanyama… It can’t be.”
Evidence Suggests Even Greater Height
Many observers believe Wembanyama might actually exceed 230 cm. ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst speculated that the French phenom could reach 7 feet 7 inches (231 cm).
At just 21 years old, Wembanyama could genuinely continue growing, as human bodies can develop until age 25.
Visual Comparisons Tell the Story
Consider this photographic evidence: Standing next to guard Stephon Castle (officially 6’6″), the height difference appears much greater than 25 centimeters. Even compared to Spurs legends Tim Duncan (211 cm) and David Robinson (216 cm), Wembanyama towers over them by a full head.
Another compelling comparison comes from a May photo with Sacramento’s 42nd draft pick Maxime Raynaud, who measures 7 feet ¼ inch (214 cm) according to pre-draft measurements. The visual difference suggests Wembanyama’s true height exceeds his listed measurements.
Technology Backs the Speculation
Specialized software designed to measure height from images has returned results suggesting 230+ cm might not be fictional when discussing Wembanyama’s actual stature.
Defensive Dominance: Living Up to the “Alien” Nickname
Wembanyama’s extraordinary height translates directly to court performance. Last season’s best defensive player (who would have won the award if not for a shoulder thrombosis) led the league in blocks with 176 rejections in just 46 games.
Opponents already hesitated to challenge his defensive fortress, often kicking the ball out to the perimeter rather than attempting shots over the center’s outstretched arms. With his increased height, they’ll have even more reason to fear approaching the paint.
Expert Opinion: Dominant Basketball Ahead
Commentator Igor Znamensky shares the growing excitement: “This season, Victor Wembanyama will show the most dominant basketball we haven’t seen in years.” His unique combination of height, skill, and defensive instinct truly justifies his “Alien” nickname.
As the NBA season approaches, all eyes will be on Wembanyama to see how his physical growth translates into basketball development. One thing remains certain: the league has never seen a player quite like him.
