Victor Wembanyama might be the smartest player in the NBA. He was made fun of by Nikola Jokic for reading books, his rigorous sleep schedule is world-famous, and he takes his mental health seriously.
Maybe the rest of the league should stop and listen.
When he passed up a $300 million supermax contract in favor of a $252 million deal, he was praised by some as a “selfless” player. Some criticized him for leaving money on the table, but most fans saw it as an excellent, intelligent move.
Wembanyama seems to have realized something the rest of the NBA hasn’t: the money will come no matter what.
Victor Wembanyama Is Already Rewarded for His Paycut
Players like Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and even LeBron James have signed massive contracts, leaving not a single cent on the table. More often than not, their team’s flexibility is hampered, and the supporting cast around them isn’t up to par.
No wonder some of these players have underperformed compared to their individual accolades. Wembanyama is making sure that he doesn’t fall for the same traps.
Last week, it was revealed that Wembanyama landed a signature shoe deal with Nike. Similar contracts have gone on to make James and Michael Jordan billionaires, dwarving their NBA career earnings. On top of that, Wemby has deals with Gatorade, H-E-B, and Louis Vuitton. He doesn’t need $50 million from the San Antonio Spurs. That cash is coming in elsewhere.
Of course, a supermax contract ensures that a team will treat you like the franchise centerpiece you are. For some insecure players, that assurance is needed. Someone like Wembanyama, however, would rather have a fistful of rings to comfort himself if he ever feels like he came up short.
Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tim Duncan all famously took pay cuts so their team could win. For all of them, it paid off. NBA players, when demanding a max contract, are often asked: “How much is enough?” For some of them, the answer is “nothing ever will be.” For guys like Wembanyama, a spot in Springfield and banner after banner is better than any check.
Besides, it’s not like he’s short on cash!
Wembanyama, at 22 years old, has realized something most players don’t figure out until well past their prime: taking less from your team often results in more from other sources.
The Nike shoe is just the latest example.
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