San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama has been THE story of the NBA Finals. With all of America's eyes on him before, during and after every game, we're learning more about him than ever before - including a pretty unusual way he celebrates.
Speaking to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Wembanyama's agent Bouna Ndiaye revealed that after winning Game 3 - and most wins in general - he likes to walk around the venue barefoot. Ndiaye explained that it helps Wemby "connect."
"He always likes to walk barefoot so he can really feel the ground," Ndiaye said. "It's how he connects."
Per the report, Wembanyama also has a Spurs staffer walk behind him with his size-21 shoes in case he changes his mind mid-walk.
Fan Response
NBA fans were more than a little bit curious about Wembanyama's ritual. Some believe it's a sign he might become insufferable as he gets older while others simply wondered if he's dumb:
"By year 10, because it’s inevitable that people get weirder as they age, Wemby will be an intolerable hippie with 8 championships," one user remarked.
"Ok man. Can Wemby fans at least be honest and finally admit that he is performative? This is childish as (expletive)," wrote another.
"I personally prefer to do my barefoot grounding on grass, but I mean I’d lie if I say I didn’t get it," a third wrote.
"Does he think Madison Square Garden is an actual garden? How are you "connecting" with industrial flooring?" another asked.
© Scott Wachter-Imagn Images.
Wembanyama has been putting the Spurs on his back at times, averaging 29 points per game. But he's really come on strong in these last two games, shooting 22 of 39 between Games 2-3 as the Spurs and Knicks split those games but nearly won both.
If he can lead them to a Game 4 win and tie up the series, it might just cement him as not only one of the greats in the NBA, but as one of the most clutch postseason players in recent memory.
