Victor Wembanyama is apparently making strides on his road to recovery.
The San Antonio Spurs star went viral this week after he was filmed playing a pickup soccer game during his Costa Rican getaway. The footage showed the 21-year-old among a small group of locals as he deftly dribbled and passed the ball down the field before hitting a header. Although his footwork was pretty impressive, it was his size that generated the strongest reactions on social media, as the 7-foot-3 All-Star looked a bit out of place.
The sight of Wemby towering over the other players (many of whom appeared to be kids) drew comparisons to the Na’vi characters in Avatar.
“He literally looks like an avatar lol,” one person wrote.
“Dude looking like a character from Avatar playing with the Forest people,” another added.
Some compared Wemby to a “dinosaur” and the "Slenderman" while other simply called The Alien “huge” and “massive.”
The French-born athlete previously confirmed he played soccer in his youth, taking on the goalkeeper position. But, according to a 2022 Olympics feature, he pivoted “to basketball under his mother’s guidance.”
Wemby was a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, but he became ineligible for the 2024-2025 award when his season was cut short due to an injury. Back in February, the Spurs star underwent surgery to treat deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder — a blood clot that was discovered after the All-Star game in San Francisco. He finished the season averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game.
Wemby shared a recovery update in a recent interview with ESPN, stating he was “over this problem.”
“There’s many more things than surgery when you go to the hospital for a blood clot,” he explained. “We’re taking our time and I’m neither late or early (in recovery), but it’s a process and there are definitely steps for me to reach. At the time, I definitely didn’t know (the extent of the condition).
He continued: "Looking back I did feel a certain way. I wasn’t in the best shape ever at the All-Star Game. By no means was it easy to learn and process. I think I did and I’m still doing the best we can do, taking care of my body and trusting the incredible work of the medical staff. I’m sure it’s something I’m going to use to grow and be better.”
At the time of the interview, Wemby had not been cleared for contact. His recent soccer moment suggests he’s made — or pretty close to — a full recovery.