Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Learning From First Matchups
On Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs erased a 20-point deficit to bet the Phoenix Suns by a point. The rookie looked good, posting 18 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Half of his shots came from behind the arc, and he looked rather unconfident, turning the ball over five times.
Still, it was only his fourth NBA game, his first against his idol Kevin Durant, and the Spurs still won. Plus, offering criticism for a rookie who scored 18 points in a win is just a waste of time. Fans figured he would regroup, learn about the Suns’ defense, and strike again the next time the teams played.
Wemby didn’t have to wait long. The Spurs remained in Phoenix and played them again on Thursday, and the Spurs once again won, this time by 11. The Spurs led the whole way and fought off a late comeback effort.
Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama meet at midcourt after the Spurs sweep PHO.
© Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY
It’s safe to say that Wembanyama improved. The 19-year-old scored a career-high 38 points, grabbed ten rebounds, got a steal, two blocks, and, impressively, only turned the ball over twice.
The rest of the league is in trouble.
Wembanyama has been praised for his work ethic, the way he takes care of his body, his athleticism, quickness, shooting ability, defensive prowess, pretty much everything. On top of all that, he is a student of the game. His basketball IQ is very high, and he approaches the game with maturity. As he starts to face teams for the second time, fans can expect him to usher in an era of dominance as he learns from what he’s seen before.
Can fans expect a rookie to routinely drop 30-point double-doubles? Probably not, but seeing an already generational prospect improve only five games into his NBA career should make San Antonio incredibly excited for what they’re building.
