Victor Wembanyama is not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve.
The San Antonio Spurs star Wembanyama was interviewed this week by Maxime Aubin of leading French outlet L’Equipe. The interview came with Wembanyama having just won the first playoff series of his NBA career by helping the Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in their first-round matchup.
During the interview, Wembanyama was asked about those who have criticized him for “crying” on the court. The 22-year-old addressed why he has faced backlash for showing his emotions.
“That’s a tough question,” said Wembanyama. “I think it’s first and foremost a fear of judgment. Like this feeling that you have to act a certain way, social codes, I guess. Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions.”
Wembanyama, who is in his third NBA season, made headlines last month for crying on the court after a regular-season comeback win over the L.A. Clippers. Fans on social media largely clowned him for the display as it was fairly out of the ordinary for an NBA star to show such a display of emotion over a non-championship victory.
But the 7-footer Wembanyama clearly won’t be apologizing for it and will continue to be true to his emotions. That might turn him into a subject of ridicule for some fans, but it could also end up making Wembanyama look like a more mature and relatable superstar in the eyes of other fans.