This is his second major performance since arriving in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama, who impressed (38 points) on November 2 by leading the San Antonio Spurs to victory in Phoenix against the Suns, had another great match, Thursday, December 28, in Portland. Thanks to the 19-year-old Frenchman’s 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 blocks, the Texan franchise won (105-118) against the Trail Blazers.
“Wemby” was saved by his coach, Gregg Popovich, and only played twenty-four minutes Thursday night, against Portland, whose squad was reduced by injuries to several key players. But the French giant (2.23 m or 2.24 m, depending on the sources) optimized his time on the floor and once again showed the full extent of his abilities.
In terms of statistics that NBA fans love, Wembanyama has become the second rookie (new American Professional League player) in history to achieve at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 blocks in a game, after Spurs legend David Robinson, in 1990, who was then aged 24 years. The former Boulogne-Levallois player made 9 out of 14 shots, including 2 3-pointers out of 4 attempted, and scored all his free throws (10 out of 10). Wemby also became the first player in NBA history to record 30 points and 7 blocks in less than thirty minutes of play.
Spurs’ fifth victory
This victory for Spurs is only their fifth of the season. The San Antonio team, which occupies last place in the Western Conference, just behind Portland, notably suffered 18 defeats in a row this fall, before ending this dark series against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 15.
But this unflattering ranking is no surprise. After a particularly successful cycle (5 NBA titles in 1999 and 2014), the Spurs are in the process of rebuilding. And the operating rules of the draft (the transfer market for players not yet belonging to the League) work in its favor. The lowest ranked teams are, in fact, those which have the first choices during the end of season draft. And it is thanks to his previous poor performances that the Texan franchise was able to hire Wembanyama, a player with exceptional abilities.