This is what we can call a reaction of pride. The day after a day without on the Thunder floor, Victor Wembanyama took out his frustration on the Jazz last night.
The Spurs interior was the author of a “five-by-five”, that is to say reaching five units in the five positive statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, interceptions). The second of his career after the one against the Lakers last season. “Wemby” thus achieved the 23rd “5×5” in NBA history, a feat still rare in the annals of the league, even if the Habs started on very high statistical bases.
Before the 2023 Draft issue, only two players had already achieved such a stat line more than once. Hakeem Olajuwon remains the still undisputed king in this area with his six “five-by-fives” in his career, including three in the calendar year 1993 alone.
There are two months left for Victor Wembanyama to hope to match him, he who joined this exclusive club on February 23 at the Crypto.com Arena. The other repeat offender among the most complete stats collectors is another European player, the Russian Andreï Kirilenkoauthor of three “five-by-fives” in his career.
Third player to achieve more than one “5×5”
The list of those who have achieved this feat is mainly made up of very big names in the history of the NBA, obviously very versatile, such as Julius Erving, George Gervin, David Robinsonor more recently Draymond Green or Anthony Davis.
Other legends could probably have claimed to appear there, particularly according to certain press articles or oral histories. But interceptions and blocks have only been officially counted by the NBA since the 1973/74 season, to the great dismay of Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell.
Among the curiosities in the history of “5×5”, five of its authors have never been All-Stars in their careers, including Nicolas Batumthe first Frenchman to have succeeded.
Among the most unexpected performances in the history of “five-by-five”, George Johnsonthe very first to have (officially) achieved this by passing 5 blocks and 5 interceptions on March 26, 1978 for the Washington Bullets, although he has only 1 block and 0.5 assists on average in his career!
For the former Pacers player Jamal Tinsley and his 1m90, his five blocks against the Wolves on November 16, 2001 – for only his 11th career game – far surpassed his 0.3 blocks average in 11 seasons in the league. He is also the only leader to have achieved a “five-by-five”.
The complete list of five-by-fives in history
George Johnson (Nets, 1978): 15 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 blocks, 5 steals
George Gervin (Spurs, 1979): 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Julius Erving (Sixers, 1979): 28 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1987): 38 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 12 blocks, 7 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1990): 29 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, 12 blocks, 5 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1992): 19 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
David Robinson (Spurs, 1992): 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 10 blocks, 5 steals
Derrick Coleman (Nets, 1993): 21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 7 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1993): 33 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1993): 24 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1993): 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 8 blocks, 5 steals
Vlade Divac (Lakers 1995): 19 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Jamaal Tinsley (Pacers, 2001): 12 points, 9 rebounds, 15 assists, 5 blocks, 6 steals
Andrei Kirilenko (Jazz, 2003): 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 8 steals
Andrei Kirilenko (Jazz, 2003): 10 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, 6 steals
Marcus Camby (Nuggets, 2004): 8 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 8 blocks, 5 steals
Andrei Kirilenko (Jazz, 2006): 14 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 blocks, 6 steals
Nicolas Batum (Blazers, 2012): 11 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Draymond Green (Warriors, 2015): 24 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Anthony Davis (Pelicans, 2018): 12 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Jusuf Nurkic (Blazers, 2019): 24 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs, 2024): 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs, 2024): 25 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks and 5 steals
