Wembanyama’s barefoot habit reveals his secret health weapon.

Victor Wembanyama likes to go barefoot and wear minimalist shoes for his health.

The San Antonio Spurs forward-center, who stands 7-foot-4 and wears size 20 shoes, prefers to be barefoot when circumstances allow.

The 22-year-old French basketball phenom unpacked his health-driven argument for eschewing 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 — aka Wemby or “The Alien” — discussed how feet have an impact on 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. 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, too.

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

So, one might assume he wouldn’t be opposed to Chanel’s controversial cruise 2027 barely there shoe consisting of simply a heel cap and ankle straps.

On the occasion of the “60 Minutes” interview, Wembanyama happened to be wearing Louis Vuitton mules with a gold buckle (he’s an ambassador), which he said were “maximalist” and had “a thick sole.”

Though he said “they look very nice,” they’re not necessarily his everyday look.

He clarified, “This is what I wear for ’60 Minutes’ interviews.”

He had some words for Wertheim’s shoes, too.

“You need to strengthen your feet, 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. Knee, hip and back, everything.”

Wembanyama's barefoot philosophy comes as no surprise to those who follow his career closely.

The 7-foot-4 center from France has been open about his commitment to unconventional health practices.

His performance on the court this season speaks for itself.

On Wednesday night, November 4, 2026, Wembanyama put up historic numbers against the Dallas Mavericks.

He scored 52 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, both career highs, along with eight blocks in a 112-111 Spurs victory.

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

And amazingly enough, 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. 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 said.

He was 16 for 28 from the field, including seven dunks, but 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,” Wembanyama 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 29.0 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game this season are all career-highs.

The connection between his barefoot regimen and his on-court dominance is something Wembanyama clearly believes in.

Foot health, he argues, is foundational to overall athletic performance.

For a player his size—7-foot-4, 235 pounds—the stress on joints is immense.

Every step, jump, and landing sends force through the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine.

Wembanyama's approach is rooted in the idea that modern shoes weaken the foot's natural structure.

By going barefoot, he aims to strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the foot, improve proprioception, and maintain proper alignment.

This is not a new concept.

The barefoot and minimalist shoe movement has gained traction among runners and fitness enthusiasts for years.

Companies like Vibram, Xero Shoes, and Merrell have built product lines around thin, flexible soles that allow the foot to move naturally.

But for an NBA star at Wembanyama's level to publicly advocate for it is relatively rare.

Most professional basketball players wear heavily cushioned, supportive shoes designed for high-impact play.

The standard NBA sneaker is built with thick foam, ankle support, and carbon fiber plates.

Wembanyama's preference for minimal footwear—even off the court—sets him apart.

His size 20 feet are a unique challenge.

Finding shoes that fit is difficult enough.

Finding minimalist shoes in that size is even harder.

Yet he persists, believing the long-term benefits outweigh the inconvenience.

The “60 Minutes” interview gave him a platform to explain his reasoning to a national audience.

He did not hold back.

He directly criticized the shoes worn by the interviewer, calling them out for not respecting the natural shape of the foot.

His message is simple: strengthen your feet, and your whole body will benefit.