In what had been virtually a foregone conclusion since before last year’s NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors Monday.
Yet the San Antonio Spurs rookie still got a huge surprise learning about the award, thanks to an elaborate prank by Fanatics.
Here’s how it all played out, according to NBA.com’s Michael C. Wright. Wembanyama went to the Spurs’ Frost Bank Center Monday, invited to visit a Fanatics traveling exhibit entitled “Origins of Greatness.” The exhibit featured game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia from some NBA legends.
Wembanyama seemed impressed as he toured the exhibit — until the exhibits started talking to him, congratulating him on his top rookie honors.
We figured a historic rookie season deserved some historic Rookie of the Year surprises. Congrats, @Wemby. #ROTY #PorVida #NBA pic.twitter.com/WqiuRCTdKZ
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) May 6, 2024
Many current and past NBA greats participated in sending congratulations to Wembanyama, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Allen Iverson and Vince Carter. Wembanyama’s visit and resulting surprise now has its own video, “The Exhibit: Wemby’s Rookie of the Year Surprise.”
As Wright explained, the prank took plenty of coordination and effort throughout the entire process, from keeping the actual purpose of the visit a secret from Wembanyama and his assistant, to figuring out how to frame the video.
The dude in the white tee was the stand-in for Vic as they rehearsed the surprise/prank before Vic arrived. pic.twitter.com/xebdIAScad
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) May 6, 2024
“Definitely unexpected,” Wembanyama said of the surprise/prank (via NBA.com). “I appreciate the messages themselves as well, not just the people they were from. It feels good after giving so much effort the whole season and to have these types of legends acknowledging you. It’s incredible.”
The rest of the world found out Wembanyama won the award on TNT Monday night.
Victor Wembanyama is officially the NBA Rookie of the Year. #Wemby 🏀🏆🦄 pic.twitter.com/Ys4yt2wovB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 6, 2024
Fans and sports media loved Fanatics’ creativity and the star’s reaction.
Victor Wembanyama thinks he’s showing up to a tribute for other NBA players.
He’s not.
The tribute is FOR HIM.
This is well done. https://t.co/PNswtCpc0J
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 6, 2024
I shouldn’t be crying, but I am
This an insane tribute https://t.co/MfjYx0X9iW
— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) May 6, 2024
Damn, this is so well done! https://t.co/BfqwrVCtWg
— Jason Minnix (@JasonMinnix) May 7, 2024
Amazing way to bring @wemby into the Rookie of the Year fraternity. https://t.co/Im6k648X4j
— BJ Winkler (@BJWinkler) May 7, 2024
[Darren Rovell; Fanatics]
