Victor Wembanyama’s missing friend found in Chicago after Spurs star’s call for help

PHILADELPHIA — With Victor Wembanyama’s help, a missing friend of his has been found safe.

On Instagram, Wembanyama posted multiple calls for assistance locating a missing person in Chicago by the name of Elijah Hoard. The 23-year-old Hoard, a longtime friend of Wembanyama’s, was reported missing after he was last seen at O’Hare International Airport, according to Chicago police.

When asked about his call to his 5.3 million Instagram followers for the public’s help locating Hoard, Wembanyama said Tuesday evening he just received word his friend was safe. Hoard is now safe at home with his family, Chicago police said Tuesday night.

“He’s been found,” Wembanyama said after the San Antonio Spurs’ 131-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. “He just got found like one hour ago or something like this. I’m so happy.”

Victor Wembanyama says his friend Elijah Hoard has been found after Wemby posted several images to his story seeking help finding Hoard after he was reported missing. pic.twitter.com/tntewFdGpG

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) March 4, 2026

Earlier Tuesday, Wembanyama shared an update saying Hoard was seen on surveillance cameras in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, which helped catalyze further media and social media coverage of the case. “Please keep sharing,” he said in his Instagram story. “The visibility is making a real difference.”

Wembanyama joined several other players and staff members of his agency, Comsport, in calling for help finding Hoard.

“We’ve been close for a long time, his family and mine,” Wembanyama said. “We always think it happens to others. That’s the first time I saw this case for a close person. I’m just very, very relieved he got found.”