‘Unbelievable’ Victor Wembanyama explodes for 38 points in fifth NBA game
Victor Wembanyama was strolling through the halls of Footprint Center after the best game of his short NBA career when he passed 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant and stopped for a quick handshake and a quick hug.
Some say the 7-foot-4 Frenchman is a bigger version of Durant.
Durant’s first impression is that the budding San Antonio Spurs star might be even better.
“His enthusiasm for the game, you can see it on TV and playing against him,” Durant said. ‘He is his own player, his own person. He is going to create his own lane and is very different from anyone who has played.”
In just his fifth NBA game, the 19-year-old Wembanyama showed why he was one of the most hyped players in years. He scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a standout performance during a 132-121 win over Durant and the Phoenix. Suns on Thursday evening.
Wembanyama produced several highlight plays in the game, including a soaring dunk while running the floor during the second quarter. But it was his poise in the fourth quarter that was the real eye-opener.
The Spurs built a 27-point lead in the first half and still held a 14-point advantage entering the fourth quarter before the Suns pulled away to tie the score at 116 with about four minutes remaining. That’s when Wembanyama took over, with the precocious rookie making a three-pointer, three free throws, a dunk and an 18-foot jumper to push the Spurs on a 12-0 run that sealed the victory.
Wembanyama shot 15 of 26 from the field and added two assists, two blocks and a steal to help the Spurs complete a two-game sweep in Phoenix. He said the game also taught him an important lesson.
“I would say a 20-point lead is nothing,” Wembanyama said. “It works both ways. It is also something we have seen in Fiba when we play against team US or scout US. You could be 15 and in the blink of an eye you’re one and you don’t know what happened because they ran the fastbreak like crazy and made some defensive stops.
“So yeah, it’s the same in the NBA.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Wembanyama’s strength is that he is unselfish but can also take over a game when necessary.
“He’s a versatile player, he’ll transition to the open man,” Popovich said. ‘He has confidence in himself. He made some plays that were incredible. That combination is quite good.”
He certainly has some fans on the Suns. Both three-time All-Star Devin Booker and Durant praised the rookie.
“He’s an incredible talent,” Booker said. “Everyone knows that. We’re just trying to figure out what he is because we’ve never seen him before. We got him early in the season. Hopefully the next time we play him we can make some adjustments to to make it more difficult. But he has the advantage of being 7-4 and can shoot over anyone.”
That advantage won’t disappear anytime soon.
And if Thursday night was any indication, Wembanyama is every bit the rising NBA star many expected.
“I don’t see anyone else like him in this game,” Durant said. “We’re both skinny and I know he’s watched me grow up, but he’s his own player.”