Victor Wembanyama’s NBA dominance stuns MLB star Paul Skenes in viral All-Star moment

Victor Wembanyama’s rise has forced even non-basketball stars to take notice after the San Antonio Spurs center’s contract extension made global headlines.

Paul Skenes, baseball’s breakout rookie, admitted he still knows little about Wembanyama despite the NBA’s growing buzz around the 22-year-old French phenom.

How Paul Skenes finally learned who Wembanyama is

Skenes, a first-time MLB All-Star, drew laughs during a post-game interview when he confessed his sports radar barely reaches beyond baseball.

“I know who he is. I don’t know how good he is,” Skenes said. “I know he’s pretty good.”

That marked progress from two years earlier, when Skenes didn’t recognize Wembanyama at all during his first All-Star weekend. This time, he could at least place the Spurs star’s name: thanks to a chance run-in in New York.

The elevator moment that changed everything

Skenes recalled crossing paths with Wembanyama near an elevator a couple of years ago. The French center’s height left an instant impression.

“He was getting on the elevator and he had to duck to get onto the elevator,” Skenes said.

That visual gave Skenes a tangible link to the nickname “Wemby,” though it didn’t spark a deeper dive into Wembanyama’s career or Spurs games.

Wembanyama’s $252M Spurs deal shapes NBA perceptions

Skenes gauged Wembanyama’s standing by his recent contract extension, which ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on 20 June 2025.

The five-year, $252 million deal: with a team-friendly 25% structure: became the third-largest rookie extension in NBA history. Only Cade Cunningham ($269M) and Evan Mobley ($269M) rank higher.

Wembanyama sacrificed potential escalators to preserve roughly $50 million for San Antonio, a move aimed at building a sustainable contender around him.

“Spurs family, I’m here to stay,” Wembanyama posted on social media. “Whatever it takes.”

Wembanyama’s 2024-25 season sets the stage

The extension capped a breakthrough campaign in which Wembanyama led the Spurs to the NBA Finals, where New York eliminated San Antonio in five games.

He posted career highs of 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 64 games, cementing his place among the league’s elite two-way bigs.

His rookie extension now locks him in as the Spurs’ cornerstone through at least 2029-30, barring a rare opt-out.

And while baseball’s brightest still may not follow hoops, Wembanyama’s gravity stretches far beyond the hardwood.