Towering Talent: Wembanyama’s Height Puts Him Among NBA Giants

Wembanyama is among the tallest players in NBA history. To put it into perspective, he is taller than the Serbian giant Nikola Jokic by about 13 centimeters. He is also taller than star LeBron James, who will also be competing in the Paris Olympics.

In comparison to soccer players, even the tallest ones seem short next to the Frenchman. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 1.87m, is 37 centimeters shorter than Wembanyama. Meanwhile, Messi, who is only 1.70m tall, would need to stand on top of two soccer balls to get close to the Frenchman’s height—and he would still fall short by 10 centimeters.

In the Olympic spirit, compared to American gymnast Simone Biles, Wembanyama is almost 1 meter taller—there is an 82-centimeter difference.

In addition to his height, the Frenchman stands out for being an excellent defender. He is able to leverage his height to contest shots and block shots frequently against opposing offenses. His physical build also gives him an advantage in rebounding battles. Above all, it’s his defensive reading and transition game that most impress analysts.