SI

Victor Wembanyama Shows Up to NYC Park After Challenging Fans to Chess Match

He's a man of the people.

Brigid Kennedy

Victor Wembanyama playing chess in NYC on Dec. 28, 2024.
Victor Wembanyama playing chess in NYC on Dec. 28, 2024. / Bleacher Report / Twitter / Screenshot
In this story:

Victor Wembanyama—No. 1 NBA draft pick and .... chess legend?

Roughly 10 hours after asking his legion of X followers where he should play chess in NYC, the 7'3" reigning Rookie of the Year announced he'd be pulling up to the tables in Washington Square Park—and invited his fans to join him.

The ensuing scene was incredibly wholesome. Even in the rain, the San Antonio Spurs big man was greeted by a decently-sized crowd.

Asked what spurred his unconventional call to action, Wemby said he was just "feeling like it," per Bleacher Report's Molly Morrison. "That's enough of a reason," he added. And most importantly, he had fun, despite losing to two pros. (At least one victory came against his brother.)

Wemby will now travel to Minneapolis as the Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Odds are he'll have better luck on the court than he did at the chess tables.

More of the Latest Around the NBA

feed

Published
Brigid Kennedy
BRIGID KENNEDY

Brigid Kennedy is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, she covered political news, sporting news and culture at TheWeek.com before moving to Livingetc, an interior design magazine. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, dual majoring in television, radio and film (from the Newhouse School of Public Communications) and marketing managment (from the Whitman School of Management). Offline, she enjoys going to the movies, reading and watching the Steelers.

Home/NBA