The final time the San Antonio Spurs received a sport, it took 38 factors from rookie face of the franchise Victor Wembanyama and a 27-point rally towards the Phoenix Suns.
That was November 2.
Over one month and 18 losses later, Wemby and San Antonio (4-20) are again within the win column after a wire-to-wire 129-115 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (15-11) on Friday evening.
“That is what I am hooked on,” mentioned the 19-year-old Frenchman after the win. “That is what I really like.”
Regardless of San Antonio’s putrid report, followers have to be all-in on what they’ve seen from the highest decide within the 2024 NBA draft. Wembanyama is scoring 19 factors and hauling in 10.9 rebounds per contest, with eight double-doubles in his final 9 video games.
On December 8 he turned the youngest player in NBA history to publish 20 factors and 20 boards in the identical sport, breaking a report set by Dwight Howard for the Orlando Magic set in 2005.
Whereas Wembanyama solely scored 13 factors on 5-of-13 capturing towards Los Angeles, he nonetheless managed his fourth sport with a minimum of 15 rebounds.
“He is a particular expertise, they have a great one right here,” mentioned James after the game. Regardless of the loss, James hit a three-pointer over Wembanyama that went viral/
This was the primary profession matchup between Wembanyama and James and will turn into the most recent iconic “passing the torch” second from one NBA era to the subsequent. That is one thing the league has a particular monitor report with.
From Larry Fowl and Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, to James and now Wembanyama, NBA followers have had the privilege to witness generational icons tackle their successors.
The marquee matchups for Wembanyama proceed, with fellow cultural phenom Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans subsequent up on the schedule. Williamson is maybe the one participant since LeBron to enter the league with as a lot hype as Wembanyama, however accidents have derailed the beginning of his profession.
With Williamson lastly wholesome and contributing 22.8 factors per sport of his personal, Wemby vs. Williamson might turn into the NBA’s subsequent nice particular person rivalry.