Victor Wembanyama is the presumed No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft this Thursday, and he’s so much more than that. He might even be the future of the league for a big man who is so athletic and versatile at a height of 7-foot-4.
But while we marvel at how Wembanyama makes baseball equipment look amusingly small and how he has to literally duck to enter the New York City subway, that size effect is even starker when he just stands next to other people.
Sure, Wembanyama might be the coolest and one of the more gifted NBA draft prospects ever, but to reiterate: he’s very, very, very tall. And these pictures of him next to other luminaries in sports and otherwise provide great context to that reality. It’s one thing to see Wembanyama’s listed massive height on paper.
It’s another task entirely to see it in practice.
1
Wembanyama and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert
Hi,
Rudy Gobert is 7’1”.
Good Lord. pic.twitter.com/HV7Hfv4brG
— NBABeau (@NBABeau) May 21, 2023
Gobert is already a massive human being!
2
Wembanyama and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé looks like a kid standing next to Victor Wembanyama 😳 pic.twitter.com/KxoLkMSpQZ
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 18, 2023
At a listed 5-foot-10, Mbappé isn’t NBA player size, but he is as tall as an average non-NBA player. I mean, c’mon!
3
Wembanyama and former NBA player JJ Redick
Fun one this week on @OldManAndThree pic.twitter.com/jk8m4M3NNl
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) June 20, 2023
Redick is 6-foot-4 — as in a whopping six feet and four inches. Wild stuff, man.
4
Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey
Victor Wembanyama standing next to Jaden Ivey and 7 footer Chet Holmgren… pic.twitter.com/zvWmFL2Uk4
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) June 29, 2022
Folks, Holmgren is 7-foot-1. He is one of the tallest (which should be with a capital T) people on the planet. Ivey is 6-foot-4. Ho-hum.
5
Wembanyama and future 2023 NBA top draft pick Scoot Henderson
Victor Wembanyama:
37 PTS | 7/11 3 PT | 5 BLK
Scoot Henderson:
28 PTS | 5 REB | 9 AST
The future is bright. pic.twitter.com/4XMQ1E5LMa
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 5, 2022
I recognize the 6-foot-2 Henderson isn’t standing straight up in this specific photo, but let’s not pretend that would make much of a difference.
6
Wembenyama and NBA legend Magic Johnson
I had the chance to meet and talk to the best player in the world and this year's number one pick in the NBA draft Victor Wembanyama! pic.twitter.com/2KT4NCFVrE
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 20, 2023
Magic Johnson, a Hall of Famer and famously not tall at … 6-foot-9. Jeez.
7
Wembanyama and Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas, 5-foot-10, and just a regular guy!
8
Wembanyama and rapper Travis Scott
What is with Wembanyama and standing next to some normal 5-foot-10 men?!
