Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington, had once dreamt of becoming a professional American football player. But after a dizzying career in showbiz and charming the French, he was generous in his praise of Victor Wembanyama, while promoting Gladiator II in Paris.

Showering praise on the San Antonio Spurs sky-scraper, Washington told L’Equipe, “It’s not fair someone that big can shoot from that far and be that good.” He was gleeful that the tall Frenchman had headed to Texas. “For him, sky is the limit. And the best thing that happened to him was going to San Antonio. He has one of the best coaches possible, in Gregg Popovich, who’s going to build him up step by step. It’s going to pay off. His best years are obviously ahead of him ”

Coach Pop though, is recovering currently from a stroke he suffered in early November.

Washington, further said, “Wembanyama reminds us that limitations in sports, like in life, are often self-imposed. Victor’s journey speaks to the power of persistence and discipline.”

Washington, born in New York, has been a Lakers fan, often spotted front row at their home games. The star of basketball movie “He Got Game”, was feted and fussed over by the French who despite coming close to beating USA at Olympics and boasting a fine team of their own, still went delirious seeing the “legend of the 7th art – cinema.”

And when Washington praised Wembanyama, French glee had no bounds, his words on the Spurs star making the front pages in Paris.