Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Meets Very High Expectations In The NBA

First-overall pick and rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, came into the league with some of the highest expectations ever. Last Monday, he continued to exceed those expectations with 27 points, 14 rebounds and ten blocks for a triple-double and a 127-99 Las Vegas Spurs’ win over the Toronto Raptors.

This was the 91st triple-double that included blocks in NBA history, the last one coming from Clint Capela in 2021. In Wembanyama’s second triple-double of the season, he also became the fourth-ever rookie in the NBA to record a triple-double including blocks. Of all those rookies, he’s the youngest ever to do so. Before him, Ralph Sampson held the record for a rookie at 23 years and 155 days, and Shaquille O’Neal held the record at 21 years and 259 days, which he achieved in his second season. At 20 years old, Wembanyama broke both records in one night.

Much of Wembanyama’s hype coming into the league came from his 7’4″ height and 8-foot wingspan which contributed to his impressive play on a professional club in France, his native country.

Wembanyama has been the leading contender for Rookie of the Year averaging 20.5 points per game, 10 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 3.2 assists. Fellow rookies Chet Holmgren, Brandon Miller and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have also impressed in their first seasons. It’s been performances like these that have separated him from his competitors.

In comparison to former stars of the San Antonio Spurs, he also passed Tim Duncan’s career-high of nine blocks in a single game.

Wembanyama’s unique combination of physical attributes, skill and basketball IQ is something every NBA team looks for when they draft a center. This isn’t just a future star for the Spurs, though. Based on the stat lines Wembanyama has already produced in his first year, there’s a chance that he could become one of the all-time greats in NBA history. If his game against the Raptors last Monday was any indication, we might not even need to wait that long to see it.

Article by Nathan Weick

USports writing intern and second year student-athlete at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA pursuing BA in Professional Writing and BA in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. Juniata College Mens Soccer Captain and former president of the Juniata College Class of 2026.