NBA giant Victor Wembanyama trains with Pro D2 side Provence Rugby during summer break

Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs forward-centre and two-time NBA All-Star, trained with French Pro D2 side Provence Rugby at the Maurice-David Stadium this week, taking part in on-field drills alongside Philippe Saint-André’s squad.

Wembanyama, who stands 7ft 4in and was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was accompanied by his Spurs teammate Harrison Barnes. The pair watched from the stands as Provence defeated Nice 42-19 in a pre-season friendly.

The Paris-born star had previously expressed a desire to train with a rugby team, citing the physical overlap between the two sports. “One thing I wanted to do last summer but I didn’t have time for was to train with a rugby team, because they are the same movement patterns and it can be transposed to what I do,” Wembanyama told ESPN earlier this year. “These are very interesting things.”

Last summer, a blood clot on his right shoulder — which required surgery — ruled out any rugby sessions, though he did use Brive’s facilities during his recovery. He also trained with basketball outfit Monks in China during that period.

Wembanyama was part of the France squad that claimed Olympic silver at the Paris Games, but any prospect of a code switch appears firmly off the table. He signed a five-year, £186m contract extension with the Spurs last month.

Both Wembanyama and Provence arrive at this pre-season having fallen short in their respective finals. Provence lost the Pro D2 final 18-14 to Vannes and were then beaten 47-24 by Perpignan in the Top 14 access play-off. The Spurs, meanwhile, lost the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks.