Victor Wembanyama stood on the center line of a new outdoor court in his hometown, stretching his arms to their full 8-foot wingspan as photographers snapped pictures. He looked thrilled.
Wembanyama presented a special gift to his hometown and future basketball stars on Tuesday: two outdoor courts — one for 5-on-5 play and the other for 3-on-3. He designed them himself, sketching out the plans and ensuring they matched his vision.
“For those of you that don’t know, this started in a room with an idea,” said San Antonio general manager Brian Wright, addressing a group of about 60 children and around 100 others watching from nearby seats.
“I remember watching Victor going on a whiteboard and literally drawing every single detail of the court that you see today and putting his heart and soul into designing this court for the children to play on. It speaks to how special you are and how special this is to you, so thank you, Victor.”
Wembanyama and the Spurs are currently in France, preparing for games against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday and Saturday in Paris. While many believe he’s from Paris, Wembanyama is actually from Le Chesnay, a small town about 12 miles west of the city.
It was important for him to have the courts finished before the Spurs’ visit, though some doubted it could be done in time.
“Impossible,” said Le Chesnay’s mayor, Richard Delepierre.
There were many obstacles: old courts that needed to be removed, approval for designs, weather issues, and the difficulty of building near the Palace of Versailles. But Wembanyama’s determination made it happen.
“Beyond his immense basketball talents, it seems that Victor possesses great qualities of art and a certain capacity for persuasion,” Delepierre said.
Construction began just a couple of months ago, but by Tuesday, the courts were finished. The nets were tight, waiting for their first shot, and the children pulled back a black drape to reveal the center court design, which combined elements from both the Spurs’ logo and the Le Chesnay clock tower. Wembanyama caught a lob and dunked to mark the opening.
“It was my dream also to have these kind of courts when I was living here,” Wembanyama said.
Le Chesnay is a small city with about 30,000 residents, located just west of downtown Paris. From the town hall, there’s a view of the Palace of Versailles, which once served as the home of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Local legend has it that Napoleon sometimes visited the area and even ordered that trees be planted in a particular way along the streets.
This is where Wembanyama’s love for basketball grew. Most of Le Chesnay’s residents, known as Chesnaycourtois and Chesnaycourtoises, engage in some type of sport. Wembanyama stirred up excitement in the town last year when he brought friends to play a pickup soccer game, using the same field they once did as kids. The town also has a passion for handball, auto racing, and equestrian sports, and in 2009, a filly named Le Chesnay raced at the Saratoga Race Course.
Now, though, it’s a basketball town. Kids can be found playing the game all over Le Chesnay, many wearing Spurs jerseys or T-shirts. Wembanyama’s mother, Elodie de Fautereau, a former standout player and coach, helped shape his basketball journey.
“The Spurs ‘Play Paris’ initiative isn’t just about building a court, it’s about creating a vibrant hub for the community that honors Victor’s journey and his commitment to giving back,” said RC Buford, CEO of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. “This renovated space will hopefully inspire the next generation and showcase the power of sports to bring people together.”
Although the Spurs haven’t disclosed the exact cost of the project, Delepierre mentioned that it was a significant part of the total estimated budget of $500,000. It’s worth mentioning that the courts aren’t designed to be a tribute to Wembanyama, though they feature the Le Chesnay city logo and the Spurs logo. There’s nothing overtly focused on his name.
Wembanyama didn’t want the courts to be all about him. And they were completed just in time.
“Impossible,” Delepierre said, reversing his earlier statement. “Is not French.”
