Victor Wembanyama’s Barefoot Health Secret No One Talks About

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama prefers to be barefoot whenever possible.

The 7-foot-4 French star, who wears a size 20 shoe, unpacked his health-driven argument for going without shoes in a recent interview with Jon Wertheim on “60 Minutes.”

The broadcast voiceover referred to the athlete as “an evangelist for going barefoot.”

Wembanyama — known as Wemby or “The Alien” — discussed how feet affect the rest of the body.

“Big men have always had feet problems,” he said.

“And I also find more and more that feet are responsible for so much more that goes on.”

He shared an anecdote to illustrate his barefoot lifestyle.

“It’s funny because I was just talking to a rookie,” Wembanyama said.

“I went to practice barefoot, and he sees me walking without shoes and he’s like, ‘I didn’t know you could just not wear shoes.’”

His approach to foot and body health extends to his footwear choices.

“I try to walk barefoot as much as I can and wear minimalistic shoes,” he said.

For the “60 Minutes” interview itself, Wembanyama wore Louis Vuitton mules with a gold buckle.

He is an ambassador for the brand.

But he called those shoes “maximalist” with “a thick sole.”

“This is what I wear for ’60 Minutes’ interviews,” he said, making clear they are not his everyday choice.

He also had words for Wertheim’s shoes.

“You need to strengthen your feet,” Wembanyama told the interviewer.

“And what shoes do — shoes like yours, for example, they don’t respect the natural shape of your foot.”

He believes the impact of strong feet extends throughout the body.

“If you got a good foot strength, which brings a good foot posture, everything else can develop the right way,” he said.

“Knee, hip and back, everything.”

This barefoot philosophy comes at a time when Wembanyama is putting up historic numbers on the court.

On Wednesday night, he scored 52 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, both career highs, along with eight blocks to lead the Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 112-111.

He had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in the first half alone.

That made him the first player since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in 1996-97 with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half.

He is the first player to reach 50 points and 20 rebounds in a one-point win since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.

Wembanyama is just the ninth player in NBA history with a 50-20 performance, and the first since Luka Doncic in 2022.

He is just the third player to do it with five blocks, along with Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo.

Despite the monster night, Wembanyama believes he can “still do more.”

“I mean, my shots weren’t falling tonight and that forces me into a style of play that is exhausting,” he said after the game.

“I can do it. I mean the proof is here. I can do it, but I can be much better if my shots fall. I know it’s just a matter of time.”

He shot 16 for 28 from the field, including seven dunks, but only 1 for 8 on 3-pointers.

The Spurs have won six straight and swept a three-game homestand.

San Antonio has not lost since dropping the season’s first two games to Oklahoma City and Houston.

Wembanyama has averaged 32.5 points during the streak despite being under the weather with a virus.

“I haven’t been feeling great lately,” he said.

“I’ve been sick for a while, and today I felt like I got my legs back. So it should be more like this, more often.”

His season averages of 29.0 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game are all career highs.

Wembanyama’s barefoot advocacy is part of a broader minimalist footwear trend.

Some podiatrists and movement specialists argue that modern shoes with thick cushioning and narrow toe boxes weaken foot muscles over time.

Proponents of barefoot or minimalist shoes say walking without support forces the foot’s intrinsic muscles to work, improving arch strength and natural gait.

Critics point out that transitioning too quickly can lead to stress fractures or plantar fasciitis.

Wembanyama’s size makes his foot health especially critical.

At 7-foot-4 and roughly 235 pounds, the forces on his feet during a game are enormous.

Each jump, cut and landing sends impact through the foot, ankle, knee, hip and spine.

If his theory is correct — that strong feet align the chain above — it could help explain how he stays durable while playing a physically demanding position.

The Spurs have been cautious with his minutes, but he has appeared in every game this season.