Victor Wembanyama Says He Is Less Afraid To Speak On Politics

Victor Wembanyama is getting more comfortable speaking plainly, even when the subject moves outside basketball.

Asked about next year's French presidential election, the San Antonio Spurs star said he has not studied the race closely enough to attach himself to a candidate or party. He also made clear that silence is not his default setting.

"As the years go by, I have fewer and fewer filters, and I'm less and less afraid to say what I think," Wembanyama said. "I haven't looked into the presidential election closely enough, but I'm not afraid to share my opinion either. I'm not afraid of upsetting people."

Wembanyama framed it less as formal politics and more as values. He said there are principles he is comfortable standing on, even if that means not everyone likes what he says.

"I'd simply call it giving my opinion, because I don't support any particular political figure or party," Wembanyama said. "However, there are things that I find problematic, and when I see them, I have no problem speaking up about them."

That is a careful answer. Wembanyama is still only 22 and already one of the NBA's most watched players. When he talks this way, the audience is bigger than San Antonio.