Victor Wembanyama: U.S. Is ‘More Shallow’ Than Other Nations, Still Great For Athletes

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama speaks multiple languages, plays chess, does kung fu and meditates with Buddhist monks, and believes shoes are an unnecessary obstacle to human athleticism.

He also supports the ongoing political riots in France and thinks Americans are a little shallow.

Nobody’s perfect.

On the latest episode of 60 Minutes, the 22-year-old Frenchman offered a glimpse into the mind of one of the most interesting young personalities in the sports world.

What does French NBA star Victor Wembanyama like about living in the U.S.? “You’re never judged for being ambitious.”

The downside? “I think the social interactions are more shallow here,” he tells 60 Minutes.

His full interview, Sunday on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/R5wto7HJ6r

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 31, 2026

Wembanyama is a thoughtful, curious, and open young man — a rare delicacy in modern professional sports. He’s unapologetically ambitious, but he seems to be chasing something greater than the obscene wealth that comes from NBA stardom.

Listening to Wemby answer a question is like discovering the antidote to LaMelo Ball.

And while his assessment of American social life deserves some pushback, Wembanyama brings more positive than negative to the American sporting landscape.

A shallow interpretation

Asked about life in America, Wembanyama offered an interesting contradiction. He called America “the best place in the world to be a professional athlete,” and praised the United States as a place where ambition is celebrated rather than resented.

But Wembanyama also suggested that American social interactions lack the depth he’s experienced in other countries. That’s a pretty sweeping cultural judgment from someone who has, in his own words, “never lived a normal life in the U.S.”

Wemby may be right that the untethered American pursuit of excellence and accumulation breeds more transactional day-to-day social interactions. But it’s hard to know how much weight to give his anecdotal evidence.

This is a 7-foot-4 Frenchman on the cusp of a 9-figure net worth. His day-to-day schedule is filled with trainers and coaches and agents and marketing executives who see him as a dollar sign and a championship ring.

In the few moments he steps out into the San Antonio public, he’s probably treated more like a demigod than a typical civilian.

So, no, I don’t doubt that Wemby has largely shallow social interactions in America. But that reality is a product of his extraordinary position more than a reflection of the American collective.

Breath of fresh air

The rest of Wembanyama’s interview revealed plenty of reasons why this guy has a chance to help restore some sanity to the NBA.

Wemby explained how chess sharpens his decision-making and how an extended stay with Buddhist monks in China challenged his ability to meditate. He also expressed a desire to promote healthy habits rather than becoming another celebrity influencer for every lucrative vice available.

“I want to promote healthy things, things that make people’s lives better,” he said.

He detailed why he believes barefoot training is a key to his longevity, and when asked whether he deserved last season’s MVP award, Wembanyama dismissed the suggestion before declaring he should win it this year.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say that sounds like pure-bred American confidence.

Wembanyama’s recent public support for the ongoing protests and riots in France suggests his political instincts don’t align with a large swath of this country, but at a time when professional sports feel overrun by manufactured personalities, rehearsed talking points, and athletes who mistake social-media engagement for intellectual depth, at least he’s genuinely interested in understanding the world.

I don’t even remember many American NBA players publicly encouraging the riots in 2020 when everybody was losing their minds. Now Victor Wembanyama appears to be applauding the riots tearing apart his home country of France. Shame on him. He owes everyone an explanation. https://t.co/QLxoBWwiYW

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 20, 2026

He might have a warped view of American social interactions, and he might be years away from his early-onset Republicanism setting in, but he clearly appreciates the opportunities that the United States offers.

And as the NBA transitions into its post-LeBron era, that’s a compelling personality to build around.