This can be a huge milestone weekend for Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs star and way forward for the NBA. Let’s bear in mind he was so hyped as a can’t-miss prospect that the NBA was streaming his French League video games on its app the yr earlier than he was eligible for the draft. The league gambled a bit on whether or not he’d be a success within the NBA, however he’s confirmed to be that after which some. He was listed at 7-foot-4 a yr in the past however is listed at 7-foot-3 this season. You can not persuade me he’s not 7-foot-5 and in a protracted line of gamers not wanting their correct peak conveyed. Regardless, Wembanyama has fully modified the best way we view basketball and what’s attainable on the courtroom in a really brief period of time.
How brief? Let’s get again to that milestone weekend for Wemby. On Friday evening towards the Denver Nuggets, Wembanyama will play in his a centesimal profession sport. On Saturday, he’ll flip 21 years previous. What he’s achieved on a person stage as he helps restore an on-court gold commonplace to the Spurs group is nothing in need of historic. How historic, you ask? Nice query! Let’s dive into what Wemby has already completed as he enters his a centesimal profession sport:
What does his sophomore season appear like?
To date, it’s spectacular! With the veteran additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, the Spurs have gone from a foul workforce led by a younger star getting crushed most nights final season to an improved squad very a lot within the postseason hunt this season. San Antonio is 17-16 and sits ninth within the Western Convention. On a person stage, Wemby’s numbers proceed to impress because the 2024-25 season continues:
25.6 factors
10.0 rebounds
3.9 assists
3.9 blocks
1.0 steals
3.4 turnovers
48.0 FG proportion
35.5 3-point FG proportion on 9.4 makes an attempt per sport
87.9 free-throw proportion
These are fairly absurd numbers for any participant, not to mention a 20-year-old. The Spurs are plus-5.2 factors per 100 possessions in 920 minutes with Wembanyama on the ground. They drop to minus-7.0 in 669 minutes with him off the ground.
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What has he completed currently? Is that this nook flip sustainable?
We simply checked out his sophomore numbers, that are spectacular. However very like final season, when Wemby progressively turned the nook to raise his sport to a different stage, he’s completed the identical this season. Take a look at his numbers from the primary 9 video games this season:
17.7 factors
9.6 rebounds
2.7 assists
3.7 blocks
1.6 steals
3.4 turnovers
41.3 FG proportion
22.6 3-point FG proportion on 6.9 makes an attempt per sport
91.2 free-throw proportion
These are nonetheless not dangerous numbers, outdoors of his general capturing proportion and inefficiency from 3. Any second-year participant averaging these numbers for a complete sophomore season would’ve nonetheless been creating unbelievable expectations. If Wemby stored these averages, he would’ve joined David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Bob McAdoo as the one sophomores in NBA historical past to common 17 factors, 9 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. However through the tenth sport of the season, the bunsen burner for Wembanyama began scorching in a historic means. These are his numbers since Nov. 9:
29.3 factors
10.2 rebounds
4.4 assists
0.8 steals
4.1 blocks
3.4 turnovers
50.4 FG proportion
39.5 3FG proportion on 10.5 makes an attempt per sport
86.7 free-throw proportion
What the f—? He’s 20 (as of this being revealed)! Right here’s the listing of gamers in NBA historical past who’ve averaged 29 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in a season:
It’s by no means occurred! It’s in all probability as a result of the NBA didn’t observe blocks when Wilt Chamberlain performed, however nonetheless! I do know what you’re pondering, although. You possibly can’t extrapolate averages over a 19-game stretch and use that as a measurement for a complete season. Positive! Let’s not skew these averages and fake they’re outright sustainable. Right here’s the listing of gamers who’ve averaged at the least 29-10-4-4 over any 19-game stretch:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it through the 1975-76 season. He was 28 and in his seventh yr within the NBA.
David Robinson did it through the 1993-94 season. He was additionally 28 and in his fifth season.
Wemby this season. Once more, he’s turning 21 on Saturday and isn’t even midway by way of his second season.
I can’t even outright say whether or not this manufacturing is sustainable for 2 causes. On one hand, we’ve by no means seen this occur earlier than. Then again, Wembanyama goes to get so much higher than what he’s proper now. Let’s get into the entire areas the place Wembanyama has been totally different than his friends and the greats who got here earlier than him throughout their first 100 video games. These are numbers from Basketball-Reference’s search engine Stathead from the 1984-85 season by way of current day.
Let’s speak about his scoring prowess
Clearly we’re going off 99 video games as a result of Wembanyama’s a centesimal is on Friday evening. He has scored a complete of two,238 factors in his profession. Since Olajuwon and Michael Jordan debuted within the 1984-85 season, solely seven gamers have scored extra factors of their first 100 video games than Wemby: Jordan (2,721), Zion Williamson (2,524), Robinson (2,476), Shaquille O’Neal (2,427), Luka Dončić (2,332), Allen Iverson (2,258) and Joel Embiid (2,247).
If Wemby scores 21 factors or extra in Sport No. 100 towards Denver, solely 5 gamers can be forward of him.
How about his rebounding?
Wemby has grabbed 1,035 rebounds within the NBA. Because the begin of the 1984-85 season, solely 10 gamers have grabbed extra rebounds by way of 100 NBA video games: O’Neal (1,350), Dikembe Mutombo (1,211), Tim Duncan (1,198), Robinson (1,197), Olajuwon (1,190), Blake Griffin (1,188), Larry Johnson (1,089), Deandre Ayton (1,075), Emeka Okafor (1,069) and Karl-Anthony Cities (1,035).
In his a centesimal sport, Wemby wants solely 4 rebounds to shorten that listing to 9 gamers and make the highest 10. Additionally, simply to nerd out a bit extra, how wild is it that Duncan and Robinson have been so shut in rebounds by way of their first 100 video games? Particularly with the passing the torch facet of all of it? Fairly cool!
What about his shot-blocking?
Wemby has 364 profession blocks. Because the begin of the 1984-85 season, solely two gamers have blocked extra photographs of their first 100 video games. Robinson blocked 383 photographs by then. The late, nice Manute Bol rejected a ridiculous 425 makes an attempt. If we glance again a bit extra, Wembanyama has extra blocks by way of 100 video games than Mark Eaton (342). This isn’t dangerous rim-protecting firm to be in. Since O’Neal is forward of Wemby in scoring and rebounding above, it’s value noting Diesel blocked 349 photographs in his first 100 video games.
We will’t overlook about his passing
For this one, we are able to go all-time simply to supply extra context. Wemby has dished out 382 assists. For anyone else listed as a middle on Basketball-Reference, solely Brad Daugherty had extra assists in his first 100 video games, racking up 398. It’s value noting Abdul-Jabbar had 375 in his first 100 video games, falling simply in need of what Wembanyama has already completed.
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After that, we’re taking a look at Clifford Ray (323), Oliver Miller (303) and Embiid (288) as the subsequent closest. They’re not shut in any respect, although. And only for good measure, when eradicating the big-man qualifier, Wembanyama is 62nd amongst all gamers in assists by way of their first 100 video games relationship again to the 1984-85 season. Wembanyama has extra dimes by way of his first 100 video games than Griffin (366), Donovan Mitchell (366), Vince Carter (337), Anthony Edwards (311), Duncan (266), Devin Booker (266), Charles Barkley (214), Robinson (210), O’Neal (192) and Steve Nash (271). Clearly, Nash took a short time to get some enjoying time earlier than his profession exploded right into a Corridor of Fame marketing campaign, however you get the purpose by now.
And the jump-shooting?
Within the NBA, Wemby has knocked down 221 3-pointers. Because the begin of the 1984-85 season, solely 9 gamers have made extra 3s by way of 100 appearances: Brandon Miller (273), Anthony Edwards (258), Keegan Murray (256), Dončić (250), Damian Lillard (235), Saddiq Bey (234), Jalen Inexperienced (232), Donovan Mitchell (229) and Lauri Markkanen (228).
Clearly, the sport has modified a lot throughout these roughly 4 a long time of 3-point capturing, however Wembanyama has much more 3-pointers made by way of the primary 100 video games than Steph Curry (200) and Klay Thompson (204). To not point out, Ray Allen made 145 in his first 100 NBA video games, Reggie Miller had 81 and James Harden hit 121. That’s to not say Wembanyama will find yourself difficult any of their profession capturing exploits, though these final 19 video games do elevate an eyebrow or two. It’s only a reminder of how a lot 3-point quantity has mutated lately.
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Trae Younger is presently tied with Wemby, however so long as the Spurs huge man makes one 3-pointer towards Denver on Friday, he’ll have sole possession of tenth place on this listing. If he hits eight, he’ll move Markkanen and tie Mitchell. By nailing 9, he’ll move Mitchell and put himself eighth on that listing.
One final little bit of context
Let’s say Wemby’s averages of 25.6 factors, 10.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and three.9 blocks maintain for the season. At that time, we’re not speaking about sophomores within the NBA or simply evaluating 100-game begins. Within the historical past of the league, he’d be solely the third participant to common at the least 25-10-3-3 for a complete season at any age. Abdul-Jabbar did it twice at 26 and 28. Olajuwon additionally achieved the feat twice, doing so at 30 and 31.
What’s he going to appear like in 5 years? Ten years? There is no such thing as a restrict to what he can do. There is no such thing as a precedent to what he’ll change into. There are not any superlatives that go too far.
(Photograph: Luke Hales / Getty Pictures)
