Before the Spurs drafted Wembanyama No. 1 in 2023, they selected a Frenchman named Tony Parker with the No. 28 pick in 2001.

Wembanyama was born and raised in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, a western Paris suburb, and has made it a focus this week to introduce his teammates to Parisian culture and the life he led before he became the NBA Rookie of the Year and likely next face of the league.

Wembanyama is a special talent, and before the whole world knew who he was, he was a kid from Le Chesnay in the Paris region. That is where he grew to love the game of basketball. As he and his team get ready to play a two-game series in his home country against the Indiana Pacers, he was honored with a special basketball court in his hometown.

Victor Wembanyama stood on the center stripe of a new outdoor court in his hometown, his arms outstretched to their full 8-foot wingspan as he posed for a slew of photographers. He could not have seemed happier.

A group of Wembanyama’s former coaches, teammates and trainers greeted him and the Spurs at Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on Monday.

Victor Wembanyama gives back to the youth, debuts two new basketball courts in his hometown ahead of Spurs' Paris games.

Growing up in the quiet Paris suburb of Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, Victor Wembanyama, who played both soccer and basketball, used to dream about having access to a basketball court where he could practice and hoop to his heart’s delight. Now, that dream has come true—not just for him, but for the young kids and athletes growing up in his hometown.

Victor Wembanyama is back in Paris with the the Spurs for the NBA Paris Games 2025. NANTERRE, France (AP) — Officially, Indiana will be the home team on the scoreboard when it plays San Antonio in Paris on Thursday. The Pacers know better. They will not be feeling right at home.

Wembanyama — often referred to by his nickname "Wemby" — gifted his jersey to the young fan on Dec. 27 after the Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets. After the tiny recipient gave Wembanyama the jersey he had been wearing, the heartwarming photo of the their jersey swap went viral on social media.

In France, basketball is rapidly growing, and as the NBA looks to capitalize on that, they sent the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers to Paris to play a series of two games this week. While Accor Arena would likely be sold out anyway, the draw of Victor Wembanyama has been enough for the entire City of Lights to be abuzz with excitement.