Victor Wembanyama achieved a monumental performance by scoring 50 points during San Antonio's victory against Washington on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (139-130). Enough to impress the US media and make the 20-year-old Frenchman a legend in the NBA.
A magical evening at the Frost Bank Center. In front of his audience, who several times shouted “MVP, MVP” at him, Victor Wembanyama produced the most prolific match of his young NBA career. For his 83rd appearance, the French giant (over 2.20m) scored 50 points during San Antonio's victory against Washington, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (139-130). A recital punctuated by 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. All in 32 minutes spent on the floor.
Coached by Mitch Johnson, Gregg Popovich's assistant (victim of a slight stroke at the beginning of the month), Wemby showed quite surgical skill (18/29 on shots), hitting 8 baskets to 3 points and catching fire in the fourth quarter (7/7, including 4 award-winning shots). His old record dated back to last March with 40 points in overtime against the Knicks.
The fourth youngest player in NBA history
Enough to impress the American media, who hail the XXL performance of the French team phenomenon. Notably recalling that he is the fourth youngest player to reach the 50-point mark in NBA history, at 20 years and 314 days, behind Brandon Jennings (20 years and 52 days), LeBron James (20 years and 80 days) and Devin Booker (20 years and 145 days). He is, unsurprisingly, the tallest of the quartet.
The native of Yvelines is also the eighth player in Spurs history to score 50 points. The first to do so without an extension since David Robinson in 1994, thirty years ago. According to ESPN, Wemby admitted that he was looking at the scoreboard to see where he was during the game. “We are already focused on the next match against the Lakers, but I am going to give myself a little time to enjoy,” said the Olympic vice-champion after his show. “It’s really an important step. I’m joining a sort of private club, it’s something I’m proud of.” The whole of Spurs also applauded his performance, like his partner Julian Champanie: “When he arrives with this state of mind, it's difficult to manage for the team opposite. He We must congratulate him and take our hats off to him.”
“If he can also score from distance, he will be completely unstoppable”
“Victor Wembanyama makes history,” writes Sports Illustrated, which relays the fiery words of Jacob Tobey, the Spurs commentator: “He’s not human. He’s an alien!” CBS Sports ironically comments on recent remarks surrounding the former Boulogne-Levallois player, criticized for his lack of long-distance skill in recent weeks. “So much for Victor Wembanayma’s complicated start to the season on the shoot…” “The 3-point shots were the catalyst for his historic evening,” notes the US media, which highlights the 8/16 scored by Wemby behind the line located at 7.23m. “We all knew he would eventually score 50 points in a game. In recent games, his 3-point shooting was starting to look like a real long-term problem. With his size, scoring near the basket is a no-brainer. “He can also score from afar, he will be totally unstoppable.”
The Athletic is also amazed. “His 50 points add to the growing legend of Wembanyama. This match is the best illustration of the problems he will pose throughout the league,” summarizes the sports news site. Bleacher Report relays the enthusiasm of supporters across the Atlantic: “Victor Wembanyama delights NBA fans”. “After a rather disappointing start to the season, it was his big night, and fans praised him on the networks. His 50 points are a good indicator that he is capable of dominating both offensively and defensively. “The future continues to be bright for him.”
“Who can do everything at a high level like him?”
The Wahsington Post took the opportunity to tackle the Wizards, thirteenth in the Eastern Conference (two wins, eight losses), with one of the worst defenses in the League. “Victor Wembanyama reminds the Wizards of what they are not,” headlines the capital’s daily. The team of Frenchmen Bilal Coulibaly (Wemby's great friend and former teammate at the Metropolitans) and Alexandre Sarr (No. 2 in the last draft) did not put up a bad match, but they came up against a UFO. “The Wizards' biggest problem? The simple fact that Victor Wembanyama plays for the Spurs”, summarizes the DC newspaper, relaying the words of pivot Jonas Valanciunas: “Who can do everything at a high level like him? We have everything made to try to prevent him from shooting 3 points, but he still managed to do it…”
ESPN included Victor Wembanyama's performance in “Night of the Superstars”, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo's 59 points in Milwaukee's victory over Detroit (127-120) and Karl-Anthony Towns' 46 points during New York's defeat York against Chicago (123-124). Three players with more than 45 points during the same NBA evening, this has not happened since March 2022. Before this crazy sequence, only three players had scored at least 45 points this season: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Oklahoma City (45 ), Tyrese Maxey with Philadelphia (45) and Paolo Banchero with Orlando (50).
The European press also echoes Wemby's 50 points, like Marca, which headlines: “Wembanyama is an alien who has come to 'distort' basketball”, by representing the Frenchman in superhero mode, with flames in the eyes.
