Wembanyama explains barefoot routine and NBA Finals lessons

Victor Wembanyama has explained why he walks barefoot whenever possible, saying stronger feet can help the rest of his body. In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes”, the San Antonio Spurs star also reflected on his conduct during last season’s NBA Finals and a lesson he learnt from former coach Gregg Popovich.

The interview comes early in the 2026-27 season, after San Antonio’s run to the Finals ended in a five-game loss to the New York Knicks. Wembanyama discussed how that series changed perceptions of him and what he wants to take from the experience.

Why he goes barefoot

“I try to walk barefoot as much as I can, and wear minimalistic shoes,” Wembanyama said. He explained that his approach is rooted in concern about the foot problems big men have faced in basketball.

He believes foot strength and posture can affect the knees, hips and back. Wembanyama recalled arriving at practice barefoot and surprising a rookie, who told him he had not realised players could come in without shoes.

The Spurs star has not missed a game this season. His longest NBA absence came because of a blood clot in his shoulder, though he has also dealt with lower-body injuries.

Finals scrutiny and personal choices

Wembanyama said the reaction to his physical play during the playoffs taught him about his limits. His hard fouls attracted attention against the Minnesota Timberwolves and later the Knicks, including a foul on Jalen Brunson in Game 5 of the Finals.

“It showed my limits more than anything else,” he said. “Going out there, you need to play basketball, you don’t need to beat the shit out of people. If you want to win at least.”

Away from the court, Wembanyama said he wants his public choices to reflect healthy habits and improve people’s lives. He also acknowledged that his experience of living in the United States is unlike that of a regular American, while saying he values its openness to ambition.

What San Antonio takes into the new season

Wembanyama identified humility as his greatest lesson from Popovich, who has retired after suffering a stroke. He recalled the coach telling players that after a win they were rarely as good as they thought, and after a loss rarely as bad.

That perspective is relevant after the Spurs surrendered double-digit leads in all four of their Finals defeats. San Antonio began this season with two losses before winning four straight, leaving Wembanyama and his team to build on their response while learning from the series against New York.