LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) - If you ever find yourself needing to beat Victor Wembanyama at a board game, don’t worry – we know a guy.
That guy just happens to be his younger brother, Oscar Wembanyama.
Representing France at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026, the 19-year-old is the youngest member of a proud basketball family that also includes Victor and their sister Eve.
But playing for Les Bleus is not the only thing the three siblings have in common.
Away from the basketball court, board games are a serious affair in the Wembanyama household – a family tradition where winning matters just as much as it does on the hardwood.
We have a lot of fun being competitive. That's the mentality.
"We've always played board games. I don't really know where it came from, but it's been around the house for a long time," Oscar said.
And things can get kind of heated.
"Very intense. Almost like on the court. Very, very intense. We play to win. Especially when it's everybody against everybody, it can get a little messy."
That competitiveness is exactly what makes family game nights so enjoyable.
"We play for fun because we have a lot of fun being competitive. That's the mentality," said Oscar, perhaps wishing he had packed a few board games for the trip to Ljubljana.
When asked which games appear most often around the family table, Oscar immediately points to the Chinese card game Gang of Four and the strategy game Small World.
"We try to rotate a lot. Those are the two main ones, but other than that we just try a lot. One that my sister likes a lot is Takenoko. It's a Japanese-themed game... but those three, I would say."
Gang of Four
Small World
Takenoko
Gang of Four even comes with its own family tradition.
"In Gang of Four, you can only play with four players, and we're five. So the loser has to step aside after every game. I'd say that's the way we think – the loser just gets out of the table," he described.
Small World, meanwhile, has taken a break from the regular rotation.
"This last game was very tough. It didn't end well. I wouldn't say it's banned, but it's been set aside for a little bit," he joked.
And there is one sibling in particular who struggles to hide their emotions when things don't go according to plan.
"She's going to get mad at me, but definitely Eve."
While Victor is starring in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs and Eve continues her professional career in Europe after spells with KBF Peja 03 and MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec, Oscar is now carving out his own path.
After moving from ASVEL to SIG Strasbourg, he will play next season with ProB side Denain ASC Voltaire.
I think we did a good job representing our family on the international stage, so obviously I'm very proud of that.
His progression has also earned him his first opportunity to represent France, following in the footsteps of both of his siblings.
"I'm very proud of it as a person, first off, to represent my country. And also, I'm grateful to my family, my brother and sister and my parents. I think we did a good job representing our family on the international stage, so obviously I'm very proud of that. This is my first selection, so it was about time," said Wembanyama.
Oscar has embraced his role in Ljubljana, averaging 7.7 points, a team-high 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks through France's first three group games, bringing the same relentless energy he says is expected both on and off the court.
"For me that's the standard. To be on the court, you have to earn the trust of your coaches and your teammates. I think the first part is just bringing the energy and the hustle. That's the standard," he said.
As for beating his siblings around the board game table, Oscar admits there are no shortcuts.
"Just think of them as the enemy. I think they're ruthless. They just want to win no matter what."
So what does it take to beat Victor Wembanyama?
"Just be better than him. He hates that. Other than that, you can't. You simply cannot talk to him."
And even if you get away with a lucky hand against Victor, you'll need a lot more to beat the entire Wembanyama family.
FIBA