By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 2 hours ago, Updated 25 minutes ago
Victor Wembanyama
RONALD CORTES / AFP
The French prodigy broke his points record with 40 points to help San Antonio dominate the New York Knicks on Friday (130-126 after overtime).
A new moment of pure genius for Victor Wembanyama last night in the NBA. The 20-year-old Frenchman became the first «rookie» (beginner) to accumulate more than 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993. “Wemby” finished the game with 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 against the New York Knicks. With a great victory snatched in overtime (130-126).
Despite the gloomy 2023/2024 financial year for the San Antonio Spurs, last in the West with their 18th victory of the season only on Friday, Victor Wembanyama achieved individual feats, in the midst of the collective slump. THE «record» of “Wemby” already dated November 2, 2023, an eternity in the NBA, when he compiled 38 points to beat Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns. Friday, the 2.24 m Frenchman, with unique agility for his size, stole the show from Knicks leader Jalen Brunson, who scored 61 points, his record, one unit shy of his franchise record held by Carmelo Anthony (62 points in 2014).
I have a certain pride in doing new things, trying to fill out my CV too.
Victor Wembanyama
If the Spurs have nothing left to play for at the end of the season, Wembanyama took advantage of this match with overtime to delight his audience and score the baskets, notably a long-distance shot to give the Texans a four-point lead at 1 ’12” from the end of overtime. “I’ve seen so many great things (in the NBA), I want to be part of it”launched Wembanyama, number 1 in the 2023 Draft. “I always wanted it, but it’s even more the case now that I see that I can already fight with these players. I’m not close (to the top) but I’m on the right track. I know it, I will get there soon. I have a certain pride in doing new things, trying to fill out my CV too. It’s always something I try to do, to be different, unique, to make an impact on people too”he continued in French.
“He’s special”, admitted his coach Gregg Popovich, at the head of a rebuilding team which hopes to quickly return to the forefront in the wake of its phenomenon. Before dreaming of a better ranking next season, Victor Wembanyama should return to the French team this summer to shine at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11).
Minnesota’s big shot
At the top of the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves scored a big blow with a success against the defending champion Denver (111-98), which allows them to climb to 2nd place in the conference, where the fight for first place is relentless. Anthony Edwards scored 25 points, Mike Conley 23 and Frenchman Rudy Gobert 21 for Minnesota compared to 32 points from Nikola Jokic, the star of the Nuggets. But the Wolves (51 wins – 22 losses) and the Nuggets (51-23) remain ahead of the standings by the Oklahoma City Thunder (also 51-22), a clear winner 128 to 103 against the Phoenix Suns, despite the absence of their leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Houston Rockets scored an 11th victory against Utah (101-100), allowing them to maintain pressure on the Golden State Warriors, victorious ahead of the Charlotte Hornets (115-97), in the fight for 10th place, the last qualifier in the play-offs, in the West.
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