Victor Wembanyama entered the night a little further into NBA history, just a few months after making his debut. The Frenchman achieved his second triple double of the season (at least 10 in three statistical categories), during the San Antonio Spurs’ victory against the Toronto Raptors (122-99). But this time, he achieved it thanks to… his blocks: 10 last night, which he added to 27 points and 14 rebounds, as well as 5 assists and 2 interceptions. The performance is quite rare in the NBA.
Wemby was elite on both ends and dropped a TRIPLE-DOUBLE in the Spurs’ win against the Raptors ????
27 PTS
14 REB
10 BLKThis is the first triple-double INCLUSIVE of blocks since 01/22/21 ???? pic.twitter.com/Xy57UqNsA9
— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2024
He is only the 4th rookie in history to post a triple-double with blocks. The last ? David Robinson in 1990… “I’m in good company with my name at his side,” declared the Frenchman after the match. He also becomes the 5th player in NBA history to have a game with more than 25 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks and 5 assists. Others ? Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, Sampson and Robinson…
“It’s going to be scary”
“I could almost have made a quadruple double with the turnovers (7),” he joked after the match. Above all, he could have reached this famous quadruple double with the assists, but once the score was acquired, he spent the last five minutes on the sidelines. He was only missing 5… Only four other players have achieved this feat in the history of the NBA (David Robinson the last in 1994), and we can bet that the next one will undoubtedly be Victor Wembanyama.
“He’s incredible and he’s just a rookie; he’s going to be scary these next few years,” admires his teammate Devin Vassell. From the start of the meeting, the Spurs number 1 sets the tone. In one minute, he repels a shot from Poeltl, scores a three-pointer on the counter-attack, comes back to grab a rebound on defense, and makes an alley-oop on a pass from Tre Jones. Showtime! We understand that the machine has started and that it is no longer going to stop.
“He did a little bit of everything,” his coach Gregg Popovich puts it mildly. Obviously he is talented in every way. He understands the game very well, and he shows it in many ways, whether through his passes, his choices, or even his counterattacks. » The highlights are too numerous to recount them all. In the first quarter, he against RJ Barrett, sends a blind pass to Sochan under the basket, then recovers off balance a pass from Tre Jones while managing to score.
During the second quarter, he started by making another three-point basket, also reassuring himself at mid-distance, before taking off very far from the basket to go for a dunk. He gives the impression that he accelerates once in the air and his opponents look at him, stunned.
In the second half, he continued his domination. He counters Poeltl for the first time while he defended a second time before on Quickley, then a second time against the same Poeltl. His performance then becomes irrational: he prevents Barnes from scoring on two attempts in a row, in two seconds, and cannot help but smile, perhaps surprised at himself. He disgusts the Raptors winger again a few minutes later by countering him by surprise from behind!
His former principal in the stands
In the last quarter, he secured his triple double with a final counter on the rookie Gradey Dick, who, afraid of suffering another counter from the Frenchman, had completely missed his lay-up a few seconds earlier, knowing Wembanyama on his heels… “I can see the intimidation sometimes that I cause,” admitted Wemby after the match. It’s more and more difficult for me to block shots, because my opponents attack me less and less. » Vassell also rewards him with a pass behind the back which astonishes Wembanyama.
In the stands, French people wave the tricolor flag. In a corner of the room, a person takes a slightly particular look at the match: Barbara Martin, former principal of the Joliot-Curie high school in Nanterre, was important in the life of young Victor, who was already around 2.20 m tall. in high school. She now lives in Toronto and was able to hug her former student after the meeting.
“She was a principal who worked hand in hand with the training center,” said the French giant after the match. What she allowed us to do was almost unheard of: she greatly facilitated my high school years, especially the final year, with private lessons, overtime, and perfect accommodation so that I could play basketball at the same time. She has become close now. » It was yesterday or almost and since then Victor Wembanyama has become Wemby. On the other side of the ocean, a little more famous but still just as big.
