As Victor Wembanyama begins his third NBA season, his standout play alongside a new teammate has already earned them a nickname that one NBA insider is absolutely loving.
What Is the Nickname for Victor Wembanyama’s New Pairing With Center Teammate?
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama isn’t short on accolades, and he’s already gotten his third season in the NBA off to a torrid start. His improved play alongside teammate Luke Kornet has led to the tandem receiving a new nickname that NBA insider Kevin O’Connor is raving over.
“French Vanilla really is one of the all-time great teammate nicknames,” he wrote in a post on X.
French Vanilla really is one of the all-time great teammate nicknames https://t.co/YfJ5VPYgcR
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) October 26, 2025
The nickname, “French Vanilla,” was inspired by an Israeli fan of the Spurs and writer known as HaDorban on X. It came in response to a fan account looking for a name for the on-court pairing of Wembanyama and Kornet, who played for the Boston Celtics the last five seasons before joining San Antonio. When informed of the origins, O’Connor replied to HaDorban, “Legend.”
Wembanyama’s output in the Spurs’ first three games has been mighty, as the 7-foot-4 phenom is averaging 34.5 points per game, putting up 40 in San Antonio’s opening-night blowout of the Dallas Mavericks. He’s also averaging six blocks and 13 rebounds per game, sparking early calls for him to be a contender for Most Valuable Player.
Kornet, another 7-footer originally signed by the New York Knicks after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt, has put in solid work off the bench, posting a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds to go with Wembanyama’s 29-point, 13-rebound, and nine-block performance against the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday.
In an interview, Kornet was all for the new nickname. “Yes, I gotta say, five stars to French Vanilla,” the center said with a laugh. “That’s pretty good. Yeah, I’ve got no feedback on that one.”
Kornet signed a four-year, $41 million deal with San Antonio amid Boston’s revamping of its team during the offseason after being bounced from last season’s playoffs by the New York Knicks. His presence is already paying off for the franchise, as they keep an eye on Wembanyama’s progress this season.
The French star only played 46 games last season before being shut down for the final 30 games due to developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). But at this pace, the talk has already begun of Wembanyama potentially lifting the Spurs to a spot in the Western Conference finals. According to The Athletic, San Antonio is projected to win 45 games.
