After a tough first game, Victor Wembanyama reminded everyone why he was the #1 overall pick and a potentially generational talent. The San Antonio Spurs’ rookie sensation got started early and ended up dazzling the San Antonio crowd with his extraordinary skills, leading the team to a thrilling 126–122 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday night.
Wembanyama, standing at an imposing 7-foot-4, showcased his athleticism, impressive wingspan and versatility, contributing to the Spurs’ win. He finished the game with a career-high 21 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, further establishing his reputation as the most promising rookie in the league.
The excitement ignited in the first quarter when Wembanyama scored two early baskets for San Antonio. Running the break alongside teammate Jeremy Sochan, Wemby executed a jaw-dropping alley-oop play. Keldon Johnson saw that both Sochan and Wemby were underneath the basket so he lobbed the ball. It looked as if Sochan would catch and lay it up, but Wembanyama’s exceptional reach and impeccable height (lol) allowed him to literally take the ball away from Sochan in midair and dunk it. The two shared smiles with another afterwards.
With approximately eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama streaked down the middle of the paint during a fast break with Tre Jones nearing halfcourt as he passed the ball forward. Jones seemingly missed the opportunity, but Victor grabbed the ball with two hands effortlessly maneuved in mid-air and threw down a two-handed reverse dunk; leaving the San Antonio crowd in awe.
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Back to the San Antonio Victors. On another play in the fourth quarter, Wemby’s ability to navigate in isolation showed his impressive skillset; putting on a couple moves, spinning then delivering a powerful dunk over Jabari Smith Jr.
In the crucial moments of the game, Wembanyama took over.
His defensive prowess came to the forefront. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation and the Spurs trailing by three points, Wembanyama exhibited incredible defensive awareness. Wemby stepped up to deny a Jabari Smith Jr. dunk attempt. Smith’s momentum carried Wemby out of bounds, but was able to swiftly recover to block Smith’s subsequent putback.
With 20 seconds left on the clock, Wembanyama rose to the occasion once more, driving down the baseline for a difficult game tying layup, forcing overtime. In the additional period, the 7-4 phenom contributed four more points, solidifying the Spurs’ lead and securing the victory.
Wembanyama’s exciting plays, marked by his height, wingspan, incredible skills and athleticism, captivated the Texas crowd and analysts alike. As the Spurs gear up for their next game against the Los Angeles Clippers, expect Wembanyama to struggle as he learns the game, but also expect him to have at least a couple singular highlights.