Victor Wembanyama’s Love of Reading: Why the NBA’s Rising Superstar Is Also a Dedicated Bookworm

When most people think of Victor Wembanyama, they think of basketball. They think of the towering 7-foot-3 phenom who arrived in the NBA carrying expectations rarely seen for a young player. They think of highlight reels, impossible blocks, and a future that many believe could include MVP awards, championships, and perhaps even a place among the greatest players to ever play the game.

What many people do not think about is books.

Yet one of the most fascinating things about Wembanyama has nothing to do with basketball at all. While many athletes spend their downtime watching movies, scrolling through social media, or playing video games, Wembanyama is often spotted with a book in his hands.

In an era where attention spans seem to get shorter every year and digital entertainment dominates nearly every free moment, seeing a young superstar enthusiastically embrace reading is surprisingly refreshing.

The San Antonio Spurs rookie has become almost as famous among teammates for his reading habits as he has for his basketball skills.

And judging from what those around him say, he is not simply carrying books around for appearances.

He is actually reading them.

A Reader on the Road

Professional athletes spend a tremendous amount of time traveling.

Long flights, hotel stays, bus rides, and waiting periods between games can create countless hours of downtime. Many players use that time to relax, sleep, watch television, or browse their phones.

Wembanyama has chosen a different path.

According to his teammates, he is constantly reading while traveling with the team. Spurs teammate Julian Champagnie joked about the size of the books Wembanyama carries around.

“He has books this big,” Champagnie said while holding his thumb and forefinger several inches apart.

That image alone tells us a lot.

Anyone who regularly reads fantasy novels knows exactly what Champagnie was describing. Fantasy books have a reputation for being enormous. Massive worlds, intricate magic systems, and sprawling casts of characters often lead to books that can double as workout equipment.

For many readers, those thick novels are intimidating.

For Wembanyama, they appear to be a regular part of his routine.

Even after becoming one of the most talked-about athletes in the world, reading remains one of his favorite ways to spend his free time.

In fact, he believes he reads more now than he did before entering the NBA.

“I think I read even more than before, with all the traveling,” Wembanyama explained.

That makes perfect sense when you think about it. Professional athletes spend a huge portion of their lives on the move. For someone who loves reading, those travel hours can become valuable opportunities to work through an ever-growing stack of books.

A Lifelong Reader

One of the more interesting parts of Wembanyama’s comments is that reading has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Many people discover reading later in life. Others develop the habit during school and eventually drift away from it as adulthood becomes busier.

Wembanyama’s relationship with books appears much deeper.

According to him, he started reading before elementary school.

“I’m saying before elementary school, this is when I started reading books basically,” he said.

That early exposure clearly had a lasting impact.

He continued reading heavily throughout elementary school before experiencing a decline during middle school, something many readers can probably relate to. Between academic responsibilities, social activities, sports, and countless other distractions, reading often takes a backseat during adolescence.

Fortunately, Wembanyama eventually returned to books during high school.

That decision has clearly stuck with him.

Today, despite balancing the demands of professional basketball, media obligations, training, and international fame, reading remains an important part of his daily life.

It is a reminder that even the busiest people can make time for books when reading is something they genuinely enjoy.

A Fantasy Fan at Heart

For book lovers, perhaps the most exciting revelation from Wembanyama’s interview was learning about his favorite genre.

Fantasy.

That answer probably does not surprise many readers.

Fantasy has become one of the most popular genres in modern publishing, attracting millions of devoted fans around the world. The genre offers escapism, imagination, adventure, and some of the most ambitious storytelling ever attempted.

Wembanyama is apparently no exception.

His favorite author is Brandon Sanderson, one of the most successful fantasy writers working today.

For fantasy fans, Sanderson hardly needs an introduction.

The bestselling author is known for creating richly detailed worlds, unique magic systems, and epic storylines that often span multiple novels. His books have become staples within the fantasy community, earning passionate fan bases across the globe.

Among Sanderson’s many works, Wembanyama specifically mentioned being a fan of the Mistborn series.

That is an excellent choice.

The original Mistborn trilogy is often recommended as one of the best entry points into modern fantasy. The series combines political intrigue, rebellion, memorable characters, and a fascinating magic system built around consuming and “burning” metals to gain supernatural abilities.

The books are accessible enough for newcomers while still offering the depth that longtime fantasy readers appreciate.

It is easy to see why someone who enjoys immersive storytelling would become invested in Sanderson’s work.

Print Books Still Reign Supreme

One detail that may particularly resonate with traditional readers is Wembanyama’s preference for physical books.

In today’s world, eBooks and audiobooks continue to grow in popularity. Many readers appreciate the convenience of carrying entire libraries on a single device.

Yet Wembanyama remains firmly in the print-book camp.

His reasoning is simple.

“It hurts my eyes a little bit when I spend too much time on the screen,” he explained.

That sentiment will sound familiar to many people.

Modern life already requires countless hours in front of screens. Between smartphones, computers, tablets, televisions, and other digital devices, our eyes rarely get a break.

For some readers, physical books offer a welcome escape from that constant digital exposure.

There is also something uniquely satisfying about holding a book in your hands, turning pages, and watching your progress physically grow as you move through the story.

Print books provide a tangible experience that technology has never fully replicated.

Wembanyama’s preference for traditional books may make him seem like an old soul, but he is certainly not alone.

Millions of readers still prefer paper over pixels.

Breaking the Athlete Stereotype

One reason Wembanyama’s reading habits have attracted so much attention is that they challenge common stereotypes about professional athletes.

Athletes are often portrayed as being singularly focused on their sport.

While dedication is certainly necessary to reach the highest levels of competition, many elite athletes have interests that extend far beyond the court, field, or arena.

Wembanyama’s love of reading highlights the intellectual curiosity that often goes unnoticed when discussing athletes.

Reading fantasy novels requires imagination, patience, concentration, and engagement.

These are qualities that can complement athletic development rather than compete with it.

In fact, many successful people across different industries credit reading as one of the most important habits in their lives.

Books expose readers to new ideas, different perspectives, and complex ways of thinking.

Whether someone is a CEO, scientist, artist, or professional athlete, those benefits remain valuable.

The Comment That Sparked Speculation

Of course, no sports story is complete without a little controversy.

During the discussion about Wembanyama’s reading habits, teammate Tre Jones made a humorous comment.

“He is getting through ’em,” Jones said. “It’s not like he is just stuck on page one. He is not doing it for the pictures. He is reading.”

On the surface, it sounds like harmless teasing between teammates.

However, some fans quickly connected the remark to a long-running internet joke involving NBA superstar LeBron James.

For years, social media users have circulated memes suggesting that LeBron only reads the opening pages of books before putting them down. The joke gained traction because photos frequently showed him holding books without much evidence regarding how far he had actually read.

To be clear, there is no definitive evidence that Jones intended his comment as a reference to LeBron.

It could have simply been a playful way of emphasizing that Wembanyama genuinely loves reading.

As often happens online, people sometimes search for hidden meanings where none exist.

Until Jones explicitly says otherwise, it is probably best viewed as a lighthearted observation rather than a shot at another player.

Why This Matters

At first glance, a professional athlete reading books may not seem newsworthy.

Yet stories like this resonate because they offer a glimpse into the person behind the celebrity.

Fans often see athletes only through the lens of competition. They watch games, analyze statistics, and debate performances.

What they rarely see are the hobbies, passions, and interests that make these athletes relatable.

Wembanyama’s love of reading reminds us that even one of the most hyped basketball prospects in recent memory enjoys something remarkably ordinary.

He likes getting lost in a good book.

For young fans especially, that message is valuable.

Reading is often competing against endless forms of digital entertainment. Seeing one of the NBA’s brightest young stars enthusiastically discussing books may encourage others to pick up a novel themselves.

And if those readers happen to discover Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn along the way, even better.

Final Thoughts

Victor Wembanyama’s basketball future remains incredibly bright. He has all the tools necessary to become one of the defining players of his generation.

But beyond the dunks, blocks, and highlight plays, there is another side of Wembanyama that deserves attention.

He is a lifelong reader.

From starting before elementary school to carrying massive fantasy novels on NBA road trips, books have remained a constant presence throughout his life. His admiration for Brandon Sanderson, preference for physical books, and commitment to reading despite an incredibly busy schedule make him stand out in a world increasingly dominated by screens.

Whether he becomes an NBA legend or not, one thing is already clear.

Victor Wembanyama is proving that being a superstar athlete and being a passionate reader are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they may go together better than most people realize. Until next time, happy reading!

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