The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, as their 11 victories are third least in the league. But, the future remains bright for the franchise because they have a generational talent to build their roster up around.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, has not disappointed. He came into the league with insane hype and sky-high expectations. To this point in his rookie campaign, he has done nothing to quell those talks.
Wembanyama has been a dominant force for the Spurs in the frontcourt. Whether it is on offense or defense, he is providing highlights on a nightly basis, wowing fans and peers alike with his rare blend of size and skill.
Against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, Wembanyama recorded the second triple-double of his career. Just like the first one, against the Detroit Pistons on January 10th, he made NBA history in recording it.
Against the Pistons, Wembanyama became the youngest center to record a triple-double. On Monday, Wembanyama became the first rookie to record a triple-double including blocks while playing under 30 minutes.
In 29 minutes, Wembanyama scored 27 points with 14 rebounds and 10 blocks. He rounded out his stat line with five assists and two steals in a 122-99 blowout victory for San Antonio on the road.
The Spurs have been making a concerted effort to limit the wear and tear on Wembanyama, limiting his minutes played throughout the season. Even playing on a soft minutes cap, Wembanyama is producing at an impressive clip.
His performance against the Raptors on Monday put him in rare company as well. Over the last 40 NBA seasons, only three players have recorded 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 10+ blocks in a game; Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson.
Any time you accomplish something and are mentioned among two all-time greats such as Olajuwon and Robinson, you are doing something right. Only scratching the surface of his potential as a rookie, the sky’s the limit for Wembanyama.
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