San Antonio, known for its rich basketball history, has a unique tradition of its own – NBA players training with local boxing legend “Jesse” James Leija. This tradition, which dates back over two decades to the days of Tim Duncan, continues with Victor Wembanyama, the top overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Leija, a Hall of Famer whose boxing career spanned 17 years, is renowned for facing opponents with significant height and reach advantages.
Initially surprised by Wembanyama’s interest in training, Leija was impressed by the young NBA prospect’s rapid skill development.
“I was shocked he was going to work out with us,” Leija admitted, per Tom Orsborn of San Antonio Express-News. “But, nah, he was ready. We wrapped him up, and he took to it so fast. I was amazed at how fast he picked it up, his skill level.”