Rudy Gobert couldn't even stop a 16-year-old Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama meets mentor Rudy Gobert in the 2026 NBA playoffs, a clash of Defensive Player of the Year winners shaping the Western semifinals.
Rudy Gobert couldn't even stop a 16-year-old Victor Wembanyama originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . A viral clip that's been floating around French basketball circles for years hit differently on Thursday night.
In that clip from 2020, a 16-year-old thin but tall Victor Wembanyama could be seen scoring at will against Rudy Gobert during a scrimmage at the Nanterre 92 facility. At the time, Gobert was already a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Yet, Wemby was easily hitting the rim, avoiding Gobert's reach.
Fast forward six years to May 2026. The San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves are set to meet in the Western Conference Semifinals, and the matchup between these two former student and mentor is the main event. 16 year old Wemby vs DPOY Rudy Gobert 6 years later, they will compete in the playoffs pic.
twitter. com/5CFDzAoygW — Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) May 1, 2026 Just to recap, Gobert, now 33, was once Wemby's mentor in France. He has won four DPOY awards, but he just witnessed Wembanyama claim his first hardware.