Sport
‘Wemby’: How the NBA is being altered before our eyes
Some say all good things come in threes, yet for Victor Wembanyama they come in fives, as he became the youngest player ever to log a ‘5×5’ statline in the NBA on Saturday night. The 20 year old recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, alongside 5 steals and blocks apiece. Achieving this feat alone is remarkable; only 15 players have ever notched such a performance – it just reinforces the overwhelming voices that have lauded the Frenchman as the most exciting NBA prospect since LeBron James. Usually it’s the newcomer given the baptism of fire, yet thus far, the world is being shown that it’s Victor’s world, and we’re mere spectators.
‘Wemby’ stands at a freakish height of 7 foot 4 inches. Seven. Foot. Four. It’s the sort of characteristic you apply to your alter-ego basketball player on a video game, to make them as dominant as possible. I mean, just under twenty three Victor Wembanyamas with outstretched arms would reach the length of a football pitch. Yet not only is he very much a reality, but Victor’s qualities go far beyond his height. He’s a never-before-seen archetype of a player with devastating talent, hence why so many predict this basketballing prophet to tyrannise the association over the years to come.
Elite rebounding IQ, a slick handle, a first-class pull-up jumpshot, and an overwhelming presence under the rim – Victor’s got a deep bag of tricks. He’s magic. LeBron James noted the influence of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on player development and how that promises to aid the 2023 number 1 pick to become “better, better, and better”. Popovich has a history of nurturing the young talent of the league’s development into superstars; take David Robinson and Tim Duncan for example. It can only benefit the Frenchman to have an encyclopaedic basketball mind shepherding his every move.
“That kid is SPECIAL!!”
Lebron james (@kingjames via x)
Victor got drafted to San Antonio in the past summer, the Spurs reaping the rewards of their lacklustre 2022-23 campaign. Their star rookie immediately brings noteworthy impact onto the court for his team – the Spurs’ defensive rating with Wembanyama on the floor is 118, yet it balloons to 127 when he takes to the bench. That means the the Texas outfit would theoretically allow 9 points fewer, if Wembanyama were to play the entire game. Many stat junkies hone in on Victor’s lack of average efficiency on scoring the ball, yet turn a blind eye to reality. Only three players have ever averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in their rookie year. Make that four.
So far, it kind of just sounds like a description of an above average basketballing talent, whose abilities are inflated due to the lack of ‘talent’ around him. So what? The ‘what’, in this case, is that he remains just 20. I mean, he still can’t legally purchase alcohol in the USA! Basketball players tend to naturally peak between 27 and 30, and many, such as the aforementioned James, remain in or around that level as late as 39 years old. Wembanyama is looking at a two decade career in the NBA, with potentially one of those in his sporting prime. He is already performing at such a level that he could be playing for a championship ring in one or two years – if he were to follow the trend of European superstars remaining one-franchise-players, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, and Nikola Jokic – Victor could initiate a commanding dynasty in San Antonio, and this is the problem.
Parity is crucial for every sport in the world; complete domination is generally frowned upon. If his rise can sustain this momentum over the next few years, the idea of parity would certainly be unlikely. Whilst the competitive future of the NBA seems bleak, the French freak of nature is unquestionably a fun watch on the court; even for a non-basketball fan. He’ll make your jaw drop, and your measuring tape come out of the kitchen drawer. Everyone expected him to be good. Perhaps not quite this good, however. And this is the ‘worst’ that he’ll ever be.
The year was 1973. The lights of the Houston Astrodome glared down on a tennis court that had become more than just a playing field — it was a stage for a cultural revolution.
Cameras flashed, tension buzzed in the air, and two players stepped onto the court — one a confident showman, the other a determined trailblaser carrying the hopes of millions.
As the first serve sliced through the air on that September evening, millions around the world weren’t just watching a tennis match — they were witnessing a fight for equality, respect, and change.
Billie Jean King is a legendary American tennis champion and advocate for gender equality whose career and impact extends far beyond the court.
With 39 Grand Slams titles and a historic victory in 1973, “Battle of the Sexes” match, she not only proved her athletic ability but also challenged stereotypes about women within the world of sport.
As a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and a leader behind equal prize money, King became a powerful force for fairness and inclusion, later emerging as a voice for LGBTQ+ rights.
Her legacy as both a world class athlete and a fearless activist changed the game for generations to come.
The “Battle of the Sexes” was a famous match, between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, a former men’s champion who was adamant that men were superior athletes.
The match was played in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome and watched by roughly 90 million people worldwide, the event was a both a sporting spectacle and a major milestone in the fight for gender equality.
Billie Jean King defeated Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3), this proved that women could compete in the highest level which inspired greater respect and opportunities for female athletes around the world.
The event’s impact was immediate. Women’s tennis surged in popularity, drawing new audiences, sponsorships, and media coverage. King used the momentum to push for lasting change.
This helped the US Open to become the first major tournament to offer equal pay. Her win also empowered a new generation of female athletes to come out and code and what was rightfully theirs.
More than five decades later, the Battle of the Sexes remains a cultural milestone.
It symbolised more than just a tennis match, it was a statement about equality, perseverance, and the power of sport to challenge societal norms.
Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.
The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.
Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.
The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”
First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.
Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.
Solent ski club has been providing adaptive skiing sessions for people with various disabilities for over 20 years.
Sessions take place on the second Sunday of every month at the Alpine Sports Centre in Southampton.
The club has been a charity since 2017. It is funded by member subscriptions, ski session fees and donations.
Club Chairman, Peter Ramm said: “The aim of the club is to put a smile on their faces. Ultimately, we take a view that everyone has a disability when they come skiing because they put a plank of wood on their feet.”
Solent Ski Club hope their guidance can provide disabled skiers with more confidence and therefore greater independence and enjoyment when on the slopes.
Peter Ramm said: “The primary driver is safety, it’s about having enough people around them to ensure they can ski safely.”
The club also aims to develop the skiing knowledge and skills of all members.
Qualified ski instructors, trained ski guides and many volunteers are present at all sessions.
Florence Davies, a skier at the club said: “My favourite thing is probably getting to speak to and enjoy laughs with other people that share similar difficulties to me. Getting to know other people and finding my independence.”
Ellie Wheatley, another participant, who is partially deaf due to a condition called CMV which was passed onto her at birth by her mother, said: “It’s good for my confidence, it gives me opportunities to get out and interact with the wider world. There’s no sport where you’re at a height, you’ve fallen over half the time, but you’re still smiling at the end of it.”
Solent Ski Club look forward to January 18th, where they will take a group of their disability skiers on their annual trip to Folgaria in Italy, to enjoy the experience on real snow, in the mountains.
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