Wembanyama shows the power of emotions in sports
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Victor Wembanyama celebrates with Devin Vassell after the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to become the Western Conference champions. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is redefining what it means to express emotion and vulnerability as a professional athlete, making space for San Antonio fans to do the same.
Why it matters: Conveying feelings is sometimes seen as a weakness, especially among men — but Wemby shows how embracing emotions unapologetically is a strength.
State of play: After the Spurs won Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, Wemby was moved to tears as he embraced teammate Stephon Castle before bringing together a team group hug — a display of emotions that's common for the 22-year-old French phenom.
- He said after the game that he uses his emotions on the court rather than let negative energy weigh him down.
- In late April, when the Spurs eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers from the Western Conference semifinals, a French reporter asked Wemby about those who criticize him for showing emotion.
- In a now-famous reply, he said: "I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions."
How it works: Expressing intense feelings, whether positive or negative, helps alleviate stress, Giancarlo Ferruzzi, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Health San Antonio, tells Axios. Ferruzzi is also certified in sports performance psychiatry and is the designated mental health practitioner for the Spurs.
- He says athletes are often under excess stress and stimulation. Repressing the feelings can lead to a buildup of stress hormones in the body that isn't healthy. "Crying releases our body's own natural pain medicines," Ferruzzi says.
- Emotional expression also allows people to bond — including the Spurs as teammates.
What they're saying: "When you see … Wemby be able to share this, and not feel at all as if it is untoward, then it just gives more permission and credibility for people to be both in touch with their feelings and hopefully express those," Ferruzzi says.
Zoom in: Ferruzzi says his own friends were nearly moved to tears watching Wemby and the team mark the win. And they're not alone.
- The Jackals, Wemby's hand-picked Spurs fan group, traveled to Oklahoma City for Game 7 and got to celebrate with the team.
- "I started crying … more than I've cried in years," Jackals president Aidan Sterling tells Axios. "Getting to embrace the seven other Jackals who were with me and who we've been through so much together in the short amount of time… that meant the world to me."
Zoom out: The NBA has gotten serious about mental health. Each team is required to have a designated mental health practitioner like Ferruzzi, per The Athletic.
- The NBA also has Mind Health, an initiative meant to destigmatize access to mental health services. Plus, teams have action plans in the case of mental health emergencies.
The bottom line: "These kinds of displays are so incredibly important and vital," Ferruzzi says of Wemby sharing his emotion.
Madalyn Mendoza contributed to this story.