Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama Wishes Artemis II Godspeed

Victor Wembanyama popped up on NASA’s Artemis II countdown to wish the crew luck, saying, "Hey, I'm Victor Wembanyama and I play basketball in the NBA," and that he's "not only interested in shooting hoops. I'm also interested in shooting stars, dark matter, and all other types of astronomical phenomena." Merlin notes Wemby's long public love of space, from receiving his Rookie of the Year award at a planetarium to talking about "dark matter" in public. Merlin senses more than a cute soundbite. Wembanyama is shaping a rare athlete identity that links elite sport with genuine science curiosity. That can open doors to public outreach, museum partnerships, and STEM programs that reach younger fans. Expect more moments where basketball and space share the spotlight.