Victor Wembanyama vs Chet Holmgren: How Do They Compare?
Two of the tallest, leanest, most unusual bodies the NBA has ever put on a court — and they arrived one year apart. Victor Wembanyama went No. 1 overall to San Antonio in 2023. Chet Holmgren went No. 2 overall to Oklahoma City in 2022. They finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting in 2024. And every September, when training camp opens, the same question gets asked about both of them: how much weight did they add?
That’s the whole story with these two. Skinny 7-footers who block everything, shoot threes, and spend every offseason in the weight room trying to convince the league their frames can hold up. Here’s how they stack up.
Wembanyama is the taller, longer, younger one. Born in Le Chesnay, France, in January 2004, he came into the league with an 8-foot wingspan and a standing reach just under 9’8″ — numbers that had scouts calling him a basketball unicorn before he’d played an NBA minute.
Holmgren is from Minneapolis, played one season at Gonzaga, and is the lighter of the two by a clear margin. He’s also the one with a championship ring — he won it in June 2025 when the Thunder beat Indiana in seven games.
Side-by-Side Stats
| Stat | Victor Wembanyama | Chet Holmgren |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 7 ft 4 in (223 cm) | 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) |
| Weight | Listed 235 lbs (107 kg) | Listed 208 lbs (94 kg) |
| Age | 21 | 23 |
| Date of Birth | January 4, 2004 | May 1, 2002 |
| Build | Extremely tall, long-limbed, lean-muscular | Extremely tall, slim, wiry |
| Eye Color | Dark brown | Blue |
| Hair Color | Dark brown/black | Light brown |
| Net Worth (est.) | $25 million | $20 million |
Wingspan is where the gap really opens up. Wembanyama measures 8 feet flat. Holmgren’s is about 7’6″ — enormous by human standards, three inches shorter than Wemby’s arms by NBA standards.
Height Comparison
Stand them next to each other and Wembanyama has about three inches on Holmgren. You’ve seen the photos from their matchups — Wemby’s head clears Chet’s, and his arms hang noticeably lower. Neither one looks normal next to anybody.
For context: the average American man is about 5’9″. Wembanyama is 19 inches taller than that. Holmgren is 16 inches taller. The average NBA player sits around 6’6″, which means both of these guys tower over the people who already tower over everyone else. Wembanyama is one of the tallest players in the league, and when he’s wearing shoes he’s pushing 7’5″.
Career Comparison
Wembanyama’s rookie year in 2023-24 was absurd: 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game. Unanimous Rookie of the Year. In his second season he bumped that to 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks across 46 games, made his first All-Star team, and then had the year cut short in February 2025 when doctors found deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. He shut it down, skipped EuroBasket with France that summer, and spent the offseason rebuilding.
Holmgren’s path was rougher early. He tore a Lisfranc ligament in his right foot at a pro-am in August 2022 and missed his entire first season. He came back in 2023-24 for 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, finishing second to Wemby in Rookie of the Year voting. Then a pelvic fracture in November 2024 cost him 39 games. He returned in February, played through the postseason, and won a title. In July 2025 he signed a rookie max extension with Oklahoma City reported at five years and up to $250 million.
Fitness and Body Approach
Wembanyama’s offseason routine is genuinely unusual. In the summer of 2025 he spent ten days at the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China, doing martial arts training, meditation and conditioning work with the monks — no phone, no basketball for stretches of it. He’s also worked out with Kevin Durant and trained in Los Angeles. On the strength side, the Spurs have taken a slow approach with him, adding muscle in small increments rather than forcing 20 pounds on his frame in one summer. He reported to camp ahead of the 2025-26 season visibly thicker through the shoulders and chest and said he’d added muscle over the break.
Holmgren has been more openly resistant to the “just get bigger” pressure. He came into the NBA listed at 195 pounds and has sat around 208 since, and he’s said more than once that he isn’t interested in adding weight that slows him down. His focus is on eating enough to hold the weight he has — he’s talked about the constant grind of consuming calories just to not lose pounds during the season — plus mobility work and durability training after two major injuries. Function over mass.
Key Differences
- Height: Wembanyama is 3 inches taller (7’4″ vs 7’1″).
- Weight: Wembanyama is listed about 27 pounds heavier.
- Wingspan: 8’0″ for Wemby, about 7’6″ for Holmgren.
- Age: Holmgren is about two years older, but Wembanyama has played more NBA games.
- Hardware: Holmgren has an NBA championship; Wembanyama has Rookie of the Year and an All-Star nod.
- Injury history: Holmgren — Lisfranc foot, pelvic fracture. Wembanyama — shoulder DVT.
- Background: Wembanyama came up through French pro basketball; Holmgren went the high school-to-Gonzaga route.
- Bulking philosophy: Wembanyama is steadily adding mass; Holmgren is deliberately protecting his current frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Victor Wembanyama?
Victor Wembanyama is 7 ft 4 in (224 cm) tall, making him one of the tallest players in the NBA. His standing reach and roughly 8-foot wingspan are even more unusual than his height.
How much does Victor Wembanyama weigh?
Victor Wembanyama weighs approximately 95 kg (209 lbs), though he has steadily added muscle since entering the NBA and has been listed as heavy as 104 kg (230 lbs).
How old is Victor Wembanyama?
Victor Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France, which makes him 22 years old in 2026.
What is Victor Wembanyama’s net worth?
Victor Wembanyama’s net worth is estimated at around $25 million in 2026, built from his San Antonio Spurs rookie-scale contract and endorsement deals including Nike.
Is Victor Wembanyama dating anyone?
Victor Wembanyama keeps his personal life extremely private and has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend. No verified relationship has been announced as of 2026.
What is Victor Wembanyama known for?
He is known as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft and the NBA Rookie of the Year with the San Antonio Spurs. His combination of 7 ft 4 in size with guard-like ball handling and shooting made him the most hyped prospect since LeBron James.
What does Victor Wembanyama eat and how does he train?
He follows a high-calorie, protein-heavy diet with lean meats, fish, rice and pasta to add mass to his long frame, and has experimented with a mostly plant-based, low-inflammation approach. His training blends heavy strength and core work with mobility, flexibility and skill drills designed to protect his joints.
Trending Now
Last Updated: September 21, 2026 | Source: Healthy Celeb
