The NBA’s rising unicorn is prioritizing health over massive payouts, shunning soda giants to protect his young fans while maintaining a laser focus on winning league championships.
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, at the tender age of 22, does not back down from the bold belief that he is destined to become "the face of the NBA.''
That destiny for the gifted 7-4 unicorn will deliver the Frenchman great wealth ... but it is his opinion, it seems, that is also comes with great responsibility.
Wemby, an MVP runner-up now playing in his first NBA Finals (against the New York Knicks with their 2-0 lead), recognizes that he is a "brand.''
It was with that in mind that Michael Jordan partnered up with Coca-Cola. It was with that in mind that LeBron James partners up with Pepsi.
So why doesn't Wembanyama - who has only a handful of endorsement deals — have a zillion-dollar tie to a soda company?
That take is even more bold than his "face-of-the-NBA'' position.
Speaking generally about Wembanyama's endorsement deals, his agent says selectivity is key.
"The philosophy is, we don't want him to be too distracted. We want him to stay focused, and this is why he did not sign too many deals," Jeremy Medjana explains. "If you sign too many deals, then you cannot stay focused on the main goal to be better, to get rest, to get treatment."
And more specifically? Why not an affiliation with a soda company?
"We're not going to mix his image with sodas like Coca-Cola," Medjana said. "They all want him, but Victor will never sell soda. Because he doesn't want to kill the kids."
Oh.
Wembanyama has gained a reputation as a proponent of health and wellness, and it's true, soda pop doesn't exactly align with that.
"Kill the kids'' seems a bit strong. But check out Wemby's Christmas Day reaction to seeing Gatorade positioned on his podium - "Oh, hell, no!'' and you see that he is walking the walk here.
Wemby does have some deals in place, with Nike, Louis Vuitton, 2K Sports, Fanatics Authentic and H-E-B. But logically, there is such a thing as "too much,'' as having so many "deals'' that a guy forgets that "the main thing is the main thing.''
"I think what Victor understands is not to be distracted by all of the fanfare around his career," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "He will be defined by championships, not by commercial opportunities or the platform he has to speak out on issues he cares about."
"Ultimately, for a player to take that mantle, they have to win," Silver added. "And in the conversations I've had with Wemby, I've emphasized that, but I'm not sure I had to tell him that. The precondition to being a leader on the global stage is winning."
And part of being a leader, in Wembanyama's eyes?
Let's not "kill the kids.''
