Victor Wembanyama has a new take on what an NBA-ready body should look like.
Despite being the likely No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama still has doubters when it comes to his weight and how his body will be able to hold up during a grueling 82-game NBA season.
But the French big man told Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America” that fans shouldn’t be worried about his body.
“They can think that because they don’t know my work ethic,” the 7-foot-4 center said Wednesday. “I know how I work, how we work, in my surroundings, my environment. I could never have any doubt.”
Despite Wembanyama’s large frame, the 19-year-old is listed at 230 pounds, which is about 5 pounds heavier than the average 6-foot-6 NBA player.
For reference, 7-foot-4 Boban Marjanovic is listed at 290 pounds, and though their games are worlds apart, their heights aren’t.
During the interview, Roberts mentioned concerns on whether Wembanyama will be able to bulk up to ward off injuries.
The center believes those critics have it wrong — and he implored others to instead “skinny up.”
“Why? What for? You should tell others to skinny up,” he said jokingly.
Until the NBA collectively decides to take Wembanyama’s advice to “skinny up,” the big man knows that he will have to adjust his body to be ready for the upcoming season.
“I gotta eat whenever I can,” Wembanyama told Roberts. “Before practice, after practice, before I go to bed, after waking up, before the nap, after the nap.”
The center’s weight is conducive to his play style as a big man who can play on the perimeter with his guard-like skills but also play down-low in the post as well.
ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony has compared Wembanyama to Kevin Durant offensively and Kevin Garnett defensively; two players that were both tall, lanky and lacked weight coming into the league.
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Both of those players put on more weight during their time in the league and became some of the greatest players the NBA has seen in the last 30 years, offering some good hope for the young prospect.