Victor Wembanyama therefore ended his first NBA season a bit prematurely. The French basketball prodigy is out for the last match of the San Antonio Spurs season, this Sunday evening, against the Detroit Pistons, officially to preserve a recalcitrant ankle.
The time to take stock has therefore come and, while waiting for a probable title of “rookie of the year” (best first year player), the annual report card of the 2.22 m giant is excellent. The former player of the Mets 92 of Boulogne-Levallois has indeed had a solid first season in terms of statistics, accumulating incredible performances and establishing several precocity records in the prestigious American league. Here are the figures to remember from this exceptional exercise.
71
The number of matches played by Victor Wembanyama, out of 82 possible, which attests to his good adaptation to the infernal pace of the NBA. Accustomed to playing once a week in France, the young 20-year-old Frenchman tripled the pace and held on. Limited in playing time by his coach Gregg Popovich at the start of the season, he finished with an average of 29.7 minutes per game (an NBA match lasts 48 minutes).
21,4
Wemby’s average points scored per game is the best for a rookie this season. This places him in 30th position in the League with a shooting success rate of 47% (33% from 3 points and 80% from throws). He also grabbed 10.6 rebounds (8th in the NBA) and distributed 3.9 assists.
3,6
The average number of blocks per game from the Spurs defensive control tower. This is quite simply the best total in the NBA, far ahead of a trio made up of Walker Kessler, Brook Lopez and Anthony Davis (2.4). Wembanyama also had 1.2 interceptions per game, which ranks him 21st in the league.
342
Proof of the massive deterrent force he has become in the league, Wembanyama is the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal to accumulate more than 300 blocks and interceptions in a single season. He finished with a total of 342 (254 “blocks” + 88 “steals”), 4 less than the record of the legend of the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers (346).
Victor Wembanyama (221 blocks, 79 steals) becomes the first Rookie to eclipse 300+ combined blocks & steals in a season since Shaquille O’Neal in 1992-93 with 346. pic.twitter.com/ELhjcpP0Hc
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 28, 2024
3
The number of times he was voted rookie of the month in the Western Conference, in January, February and March. His biggest rival for the title of rookie of the year, Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), was twice (November and December). In the Eastern Conference, Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets) was also distinguished three times but he does not seem able to worry Wembanyama for the title of best “rookie” of the season.
19
The low number of matches won by Wembanyama out of the 71 played. The Spurs added two victories in his absence to present one of the worst records in the league this season (21 W-60 D before the last match).
5×5
On February 23, against LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers, he accomplished a rare performance by achieving a “five by five”, that is to say by accumulating 5 units in 5 different statistical categories. He finished the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks, which no player had done in the NBA since… 2019. He is only the 15th player in history to accomplish this but, especially, the youngest.
With his performance tonight, Victor Wembanyama becomes the 15th player and the 22nd instance in NBA history to record a 5×5 (PTS-REB-AST-STL-BLK) game, since 1973-74 when blocks and steals became official.
At 20y, 50d old, he is the youngest player since tracking began to have… pic.twitter.com/ohupheK5mA
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 24, 2024
40
His record for points in a game this season achieved on March 29 against the New York Knicks (victory 130-126 AD). That day, Wembanyama accumulated 40 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists in a titanic match. At 20 years old and not yet 3 months old, he is obviously the youngest player in NBA history to produce a statistical sheet with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds and the first rookie to achieve such a performance since a certain Shaquille O’ Neal in 1993.
30-15-5-5
On March 17, Wembanyama had a huge game during the Spurs’ victory against the Brooklyn Nets (122-115). He finished with a stat line of 33 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 blocks, becoming the second rookie in history after his glorious predecessor in San Antonio David Robinson to accumulate in the same game at least 30 points, 15 rebounds , 5 passes and 5 blocks.
100
Who said that grown-ups can’t shoot? Not Wemby, that’s for sure! Observers keep saying that the French interior is reinventing the game and we understand better why when reading this staggering statistic since Wembanyama is the second player in history only after the American Raef LaFrentz to accumulate in the same season more 200 blocks (254) — a statistic specific to pivots — and more than 100 three-point shots (128) — a statistic specific to guards —. Pure versatility.
3×10
On January 10, during a game against the Detroit Pistons, Wembanyama signed the first triple-double of his NBA career with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He adds the notable feat of not losing a single ball, which makes him the youngest player in history to achieve such a performance.
41
The number of double-doubles achieved this season by Wemby, that is to say at least 10 units in two statistical areas, almost a habit for him.
10
On February 12, during a Spurs victory in Toronto (122-99), the Frenchman signed a new triple double with, rare, 10 blocks! He is only the 4th rookie in history to post a triple-double with blocks. The last ? David Robinson in 1990… He also became 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.
