The term "generational" gets thrown out a lot ahead of the draft — regardless of year, sport or whether a player is actually deserving of that moniker.
But in the case of Victor Wembanyama, the French prospect who is unanimously projected to go first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, it might be an understatement. At 7-4, he would enter the NBA tied as the league's tallest player alongside Boban Marjanovic. Unlike Marjanovic and the vast majority of NBA players over 7 feet tall, he has moves and a shooting motion that better resemble a point guard than a center.
While Wembanyama may be an "alien" outlier in the basketball world, he is simply one of several athletes to emerge from his family. That includes his grandfather and mother, both of whom played basketball professionally; his Olympic athlete father; and his siblings, who have their own playing careers in France.
Considering the athletic pedigree of his family, it's no wonder Wembanyama is considered the can't-miss prospect of the 2023 NBA Draft. With that, The Sporting News looks at his family, their own athletic feats and how they helped develop the soon-to-be No. 1 overall pick.
MORE: Why Victor Wembanyama won't attend 2023 NBA Draft Combine
Victor Wembanyama's dad: Felix Wembanyama
Wembanyama's father is Felix Wembanyama, of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike the rest of his family, his primary sport isn't basketball, but track and field. He reportedly never competed at the Olympics, however.
SLAM reports he competed in the triple jump, while the Toronto Star reports he competed in the long jump; and FIBA.com reports he competed in the high jump.
Even though he is not a basketball player, Felix Wembanyama reportedly taught his son proper running and jumping technique. Per SLAM:
"Dad gave me the passion for knowing subjects in depth," Victor Wembanyama said, "being a real technician of sports, of whatever I do."
Victor Wembanyama's mom: Elodie de Fautereau
Wembanyama's mother, Elodie de Fautereau, is credited with introducing him to the sport of basketball after he initially played soccer and practiced judo. Like her children, Elodie de Fautereau — listed at 6-3 — played professionally before transitioning to a role as a youth basketball coach. That's how Wembanyama got introduced to the game.
"I mean, I had the choice and I still have the choice to play or not play basketball, but basketball has always been around," Wembanyama told Slam in October 2022. “I can’t avoid it in my family.
Added Wembanyama: "She’s more like me. We really look alike, and she’s kind of eccentric sometimes."
MORE: Where Wembanyama ranks in TSN's latest mock draft
Victor Wembanyama's sister: Eve Wembanyama
Victor's older sister, 21-year-old Eve Wembanyama, is also a basketball player. In 2017, she helped France win the FIBA-U16 Women's European Championship. She is listed as a 6-1 small forward at Monaco, which as of the 2022-23 season competes out of France's Ligue Feminine 2 De Basketball — the country's second division in the sport.
She is listed as averaging 6.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 14 games played this season. Her team finished 10th in the league with a 9-13 record.
Victor Wembanyama's brother: Oscar Wembanyama
According to a March 8 report by Benoit Dujardin of Proballers.com, Oscar Wembanyama — who at 15 years old already stands at 6-6 — began playing handball before following in the steps of his grandparents, mother and siblings.
Proballers.com reports Oscar Wembanyama made his basketball debut in 2020 for Nanterre's U-15 team, the same team for whom older brother Victor once played. That year, Nanterre 92 beat ASVEL to become the French champion. He reportedly signed with ASVEL in the summer of 2022 after Victor left the team to join the Metropolitans 92.
McGregor: 2023 is Wembanyama's year — and it's just getting started
Victor Wembanyama's grandparents: Michel de Fautereau and Marie Christine
According to SLAM, Wembanyama's grandparents also played basketball. His grandfather, Michel de Fautereau, reportedly played for Paris University Club of French's top basketball division in the 1960s. Slam described him as a "rugged 6-7 dunking center." His grandmother, Marie Christine, is also noted to have played the sport, driving her husband to and from basketball games.
Where is Victor Wembanyama from?
Wembanyama — born in Le Chesnay, France in January 2004 — has traveled throughout the country during his playing career, both as an amateur and professional.
At seven years old, he began playing for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles (France) before joining the youth system of Nanterre 92 as a 10-year-old; the team is based out of Nanterre, France, a suburb west of Paris. In 2018, he was briefly loaned to FC Barcelona (Spain) for an under-14 tournament.
Wembanyama began playing professionally in 2019, joining several teams from the LNB Pro A, France's premier basketball league. He first played for Nanterre 92, where he stayed for two years. In 2021, he signed with ASVEL — based out of Lyon, France — before joining Metropolitans 92 (Levallois-Perret, France) in 2022.