Wemby is surprised by the lack of effort some NBA stars put into improving their game: "They don't seem like they put as much work as I thought."

Foreign players adjust to many things the moment they set foot in America. From the culture to the cuisine to the unfamiliar environment, they have their work cut out for them to transition to living and playing hoops in the United States.

However, for burgeoning superstar and French sensation Victor Wembanyama , one of the biggest surprises he's encountered in his brief career is the lack of effort he's seen from some NBA superstars regarding their work ethic.

An eye-opening experience

The NBA is a billion-dollar business that utilizes remarkable marketing machines that take players and make them look like superheroes who put in an incredible amount of work daily. This is true for some, which has inspired the 7'4" wunderkind to approach the game with the same mentality.

"I think both in a good and bad way; it's how truly the best in the game are. How, in a good way, some of them are really impressive and inspiring in the way they approach the game every night," the reigning Rookie of the Year answered when asked what surprised him the most in his first season in the Association.

However, Victor has also been privy to the lackluster work ethic of some players, including some that he used to admire from afar, which has been an eye-opening experience for him.

"But others that I used to like, and now I'm just like, 'nah.' I'm not sure that they deserve you know. They don't seem like they put as much work as I thought," Wemby added.

The native of Le Chesnay, France, did not name any players, but it's fair to say that this is far from surprising. There are plenty of players in the league who go by on talent and skill alone. Others tend to relax, especially when they secure the bag.

Related: Julius Erving believes no player is similar to him in the modern NBA: “I was a small forward, but I really played like a power forward”

Wemby looks up to Durant and Gobert

On the flip side, Victor said there are two players he continues to look up to: Phoenix Suns All-Star and former league MVP Kevin Durant and his compatriot, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Wemby has played against KD in the league and the 2024 Olympics while he's worked with Gobert on the French national team that won the silver medal in Paris.

"Some of them, I'm talking like KD, of course. You know I got to know Rudy Gobert more with the national team. I know their work ethic. I know how they view the game, and it's really inspiring, and I want to do the same as them. Now that I've seen behind the scenes and now I know it's for real," Wembanyama stressed.

After averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game in his rookie campaign, Victor is looking to take another step in his career and lead the San Antonio Spurs back to the NBA Playoffs.

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