The story, as Buford tells it, goes like this: Claudio Crippa, an international scout for the Spurs, proposed going to see a youth game before checking out Doumbouya. Buford saw Wembanyama play for the first time that day. And the seeds for the Spurs' new master plan were immediately planted.

Wembanyama — often referred to by his nickname "Wemby" — gifted his jersey to the young fan on Dec. 27 after the Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets. After the tiny recipient gave Wembanyama the jersey he had been wearing, the heartwarming photo of the their jersey swap went viral on social media.