It’s not every day that a professional athlete admits he might not be the best person to explain what life is really like for ordinary people. Victor Wembanyama did exactly that during his recent appearance on 60 Minutes, and I thought it was worth your attention.

The San Antonio Spurs star was asked about living in the United States. His answer was refreshingly honest. He explained that he doesn’t really know what life is like for the average American because he lives the life of a professional athlete, a wealthy person who has just about everything taken care of.

He wasn’t complaining. In fact, he called it the best country to be an athlete in. But there’s something interesting in what he said.

Few Americans Know What It Means to Have So Much Wealth

Wembanyama is 22 years old, enormously talented, financially secure, and already one of basketball’s most recognizable young players. He lives in a world most people will never experience. His travel, security, accommodations, professional support, and financial opportunities are far removed from the daily concerns facing most families.

And he seems to understand that. That kind of insight isn’t necessarily easy for a young superstar to recognize. Professional athletes spend so much of their lives surrounded by people who make their lives easier. They have coaches, trainers, agents, teammates, and organizations looking after their interests. Even when they’re working incredibly hard, their everyday experiences are different from those of the people watching them.

Fans Need to Realize that Players Like Wembanyama Have Limited Perspectives

There’s a lesson here for fans, too. We sometimes expect athletes to have an opinion about everything happening around them. They’re famous, they’re visible, and their words carry weight. But being a great basketball player doesn’t automatically make someone an expert on how everyone else lives. Perhaps Wembanyama understands that better than most.

What I liked about his answer wasn’t that he had something profound to say about America. It was that he knew where his experience ended. He could speak honestly about his own life without pretending it represented everybody else’s.

That’s a pretty useful bit of self-awareness. And it makes sense. Fans will keep watching Wembanyama for what he does on the basketball court. He’s a remarkable talent, and there’s plenty more to come. But every once in a while, a comment away from the game gives us another reason to appreciate the person behind the player.

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