Victor Wembanyama enjoyed a strong debut season with the San Antonio Spurs. The French phenom proved all the hype surrounding his arrival in the NBA was justified by averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 71 games.
Due to his incredible size and length, he is already being billed as a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
However, that same size and length have former NBA big man Paul Mokeski concerned about Wembanyama’s long-term health. Mokeski, a 12-year veteran of the league, believes Wembanyama’s size could leave him susceptible to significant health issues later in life.
“The human body is not made to be so tall,” Mokeski told Dusty Garza of News 4 San Antonio. “From Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone to Earl Cureton, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jack Haley, they all died from heart-related problems. This is what happens with tall players like me who played in the NBA. We notice the former tall players who have passed away and how they died. Yes, it is a concern.”
While Mokeski’s warning is fair, significant advancements in sports science over the past 10 years should help minimize any potential long-term risk associated with Wembanyama’s size. He’s also not the only 7-footer in the NBA right now, with Kristaps Porzingis, Chet Holmgren and Rudy Gobert as some of the other prominent big men.
“He will have far fewer problems due to training and knowledge about it,” Mokeski said. “I am less worried about someone like him now than, say, 25 years ago. He will be much better off than I was.”
While Wembanyama’s long-term health is undoubtedly in good hands, the Spurs training staff will want to ensure he remains injury-free. Big men are often prone to lower back and leg injuries, which can sometimes derail a career or produce significant limitations.
Wembanyama must continue adding muscle to his frame while sticking to his stretching routine to ensure he’s still flexible and nimble.
San Antonio is navigating a complete rebuild of its roster, with Wembanyama the clear-cut franchise cornerstone. The front office added Chris Paul to the rotation earlier this summer, which should help take the big man’s game to another level, especially in the pick and roll. Wembanyama is a star of the future.
Still, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t start taking the necessary precautions to protect himself from potential health risks further down the line.
