Don't let the haters fool you; the NBA on Christmas Day was a successful outing for the league. One reason for that was the absolute classic between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks that started the festivities.

Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though.

The NBA star, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs and goes by the nickname Wemby, took to X in the early hours of Saturday to ask where the best place to play chess in New York City is. By 9:30 a.m., Wemby picked his court: Washington Square Park.

NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama made a call to fans on social media looking for a chess partner on the NYC streets and to the surprise of many he came through.

He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA’s biggest stars.

Victor Wembanyama took some time for a New York City pastime in the rain on Saturday. The 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year stopped off at Washington Square Park to play chess after the Spurs’ two-game stint in the Big Apple this week.

San Antonio Spurs standout player Victor Wembanyama surprised his fans by doing something unexpected at Washington Square Park.

Victor Wembanyama pulled up to Washington Square Park to play chess despite it being a very rainy Saturday in New York City. The French superstar started playing when he was around seven years old, and his love for it is still there even now that he is an NBA star.

NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama swaps the court for the chess board, inviting fans to take him on for a different type of one-on-one in a New York park.

Most of the players interviewed gave simple answers. Spurs guard Devin Vassell and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson wished for wins. San Antonio forward Harrison Barnes elaborated a bit, wishing for a win and quality time with his family after the game.