SAN ANTONIO — A few lucky basketball card collectors got a 7-4 surprise at San Antonio's “Topps Hobby Rip Night” as San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama appeared to celebrate the hobby.
The not-so-secret surprise guest visited Boomtown Sports Cards and Collectibles on Bandera Road on Saturday afternoon to fans cheering "Wemby!" as he made his way to the card counter to enjoy ripping card packs open with fans.
"I’m starting to have a little collection," Wembanyama said to fans in attendance. "I’ve got cards of myself, of course."
Wemby answered questions from owner Victor Nava, including which Star Wars faction he would pick: Jedi or Sith. He chose the good guys, the Jedi, of course.
He also told fans he is collecting Star Wars cards and admitted he has not found a rare, autographed basketball card since he started collecting.
"It's completely surreal to have him in the shop," Nava said of Wembanyama's visit. "We come here every day. We don't see someone like that in the shop, and to see him physically here. It was mind-blowing. It was life-changing."
As Wembanyama stood behind the card counter, he had fun with fans who got a chance to trade cards with him. He was making card deals as the kids yelled his name, hoping he'd pick them to make a deal with them.
"I just traded Wemby one of these (his rookie of the year card) for one of his Eli Mannings (number) 25 from his personal collection," said card collector Caleb Hernandez. "My heart was pumping a little bit. He's really tall. That's one thing I noticed."
Hernandez says he is still searching for a Wembanyama "Snake Skin" variant worth thousands of dollars and appreciated the Spurs center for coming to Boomtown for the event.
"It was an experience that I will never have again. Nothing can top that," Nava said.
The event was a huge success as fans lined up hours before doors opened to get a prime spot to meet Wembanyama.
And when they got in, Boomtown Sports was packed with people shoulder-to-shoulder, enjoying card talk and waiting for Wemby's arrival.
Wembanyama’s visit was part of a global Topps sports card event. It was a part of Topps Hobby Rip Night for sports trading card and memorabilia hobbyists who descended upon 560-plus hobby shops across the globe.
Other athletes and celebrities, such as the Cowboys' Dez Bryant, PJ Tucker, and Tom Brady, participated at other locations.
Despite Welmby's visit as a one-time event (for now), Nava wants fans to know that his store welcomes everyone to stop by and meet other collectors.
"He (Wembanyama) was very excited because he's into things like this," Nava said. "We forget he's 20 years old. He's into this type of stuff, and for him to come into the card shop, he was very excited to be here."
Said Nava: "This is his element right here. Besides a basketball court, I think he'd rather be in the card shop."