Victor Wembanyama clarifies meaning behind pregame robe outfit before season-saving Spurs win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Donning a long, green robe, the towering 7-foot-4 presence of Victor Wembanyama walked through the paths of Frost Bank Center. That night, he would have a 28-point double-double to force Game 7 against the defending champions.
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Wembanyama has had some unusual training methods in his career, from an in-depth stretching routine to avoid injury to training with monks in the offseason. But this robe had nothing to do with these methods.
This garment is called a thobe, and is worn by Muslim people when celebrating Eid al-Adha, a holiday that ended the day prior to the Spurs‘ Game 6 matchup.
Here’s everything to know about Wembanyama’s pregame outfit and the meaning behind it.
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Victor Wembanyama pregame outfit
Wembanyama wore a long green thobe ahead of Game 6 as he walked through the arena. This outfit is worn on the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
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He wore this over a pair of gray sweatpants and sandals.
This was worn to recognize the holiday, but that does not mean Wembanyama practices any religion in particular.
Experimenting with new pregame outfits is nothing new to Wembanyama, who has previously worn a ski mask and goggles in 2024. That outfit also came before one of his best performances, where he scored 27 points alongside 14 rebounds and 10 blocks.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama’s family tree, from basketball mother to tall siblings
Why did Victor Wembanyama wear a robe?
Wembanyama’s thobe was a nod to Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday known as the Festival of Sacrifice.
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During this holiday, those who observe wear robes called thobes to honor the Prophet Muhammad, who encouraged people to wear their best clothes during this celebration.
Wembanyama’s choice to wear a thobe was a nod to the holiday, honoring the religious tradition that took place from May 26-27.
Some fans speculated that it could be related to the monks that Wembanyama trained with in the offseason. In actuality, it was simply a nod to Eid al-Adha.
MORE: How did monks improve Wembanyama’s skill set?
Is Victor Wembanyama Muslim?
According to French journalist Maxime Aubin, “Wembanyama is not Muslim, at least, the last time I asked him, he said he didn’t identify with any particular religion.”
Wembanyama wore the robe as an outfit for the Islamic holiday in particular, but has not said that he publicly identifies as a member of the religion.
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What is a thobe?
A thobe is a long robe that typically falls between the knees and ankles. It’s worn by men, especially around holidays like Eid al-Adha.
This garment goes by different names depending on the country in which it is worn. The style also differs between countries, with some including rounded or pointed collars, a tassel, or buttons.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
