Victor Wembanyama prepares for his 100th NBA game: analysis of his historic start.

This weekend marks an essential turning point for Victor Wembanyama, the star of the San Antonio Spurs and one of the future pillars of the NBA. It is important to remember that he generated such enthusiasm that even before his eligibility for the draft, the league was already broadcasting its matches in France on its application. The bet was daring, but Wembanyama not only met expectations, he greatly exceeded them. Measuring 2.21 meters last year, he is now announced at 2.18 meters this season, although I remain convinced that he is close to 2.26 meters. Regardless, in the space of a few months, Wembanyama has completely transformed our perception of basketball and the possibilities that present themselves on the court.

What change did he make? A look back at this key weekend for Wemby. Friday night, he will play his 100th professional game against the Denver Nuggets. And on Saturday, he will celebrate his 21st birthday. His individual journey, while helping to restore the image of Spurs, is simply historic. How historic is it, you ask? Let’s take a look at Wemby’s achievements heading into this symbolic match.

What is the outcome of its second season?

So far, it’s pretty impressive! With the additions of veterans like Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, the Spurs have gone from a struggling team, led by a young star, to a competitive group aiming for the playoffs this season. San Antonio is 17-16 and ranks ninth in the Western Conference. Wembanyama’s individual performances continue to impress throughout this 2024-25 season:

• 25,6 points
• 10.0 rebounds
• 3.9 assists
• 3.9 blocks
• 1,0 interception
• 3.4 ball losses
• 48.0% shooting
• 35.5% at 3 points on 9.4 attempts per game
• 87.9% on free throws

These numbers are remarkable to say the least, especially for a 20-year-old player. Over a period of 920 minutes spent on the pitch, the Spurs are +5.2 points compared to their opponents with Wembanyama, compared to -7.0 in the absence of the young prodigy.

What are its recent achievements and is this progress sustainable?

We’ve already talked about his performances this season, but just like last year, Wemby has taken his game to the next level. Let’s take a look at his numbers in the first few games of this season:

• 17,7 points
• 9.6 rebounds
• 2.7 assists
• 3.7 blocks
• 1,6 interception
• 3.4 ball losses
• 41.3% shooting
• 22.6% at 3 points on 6.9 attempts per game
• 91.2% on free throws

While those numbers have their limitations, a second-year player maintaining such averages would already be creating huge expectations. Had Wemby continued this momentum, he would have joined legend David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Bob McAdoo as the only sophomores in NBA history to post more than 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks per game . However, in his tenth match, Wembanyama exploded in historic fashion. Here are his figures since November 9:

• 29,3 points
• 10.2 rebounds
• 4.4 assists
• 0,8 interception
• 4.1 blocks
• 3.4 ball losses
• 50.4% shooting
• 39.5% at 3 points on 10.5 attempts per game
• 86.7% on free throws

For a 20 year old player, these statistics are breathtaking. Indeed, no player in NBA history has maintained such averages during a season. Of course, the averages over a period of matches are difficult to evaluate, but here are the players who managed to collect at least 29 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks over an equivalent period:

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the 1975-76 season at age 28.
• David Robinson at age 28 during the 1993-94 season.
• Victor Wembanyama at only 21 years old.

It is difficult to assess whether this production is sustainable. On the one hand, we’ve never seen this before. On the other hand, Wembanyama still has a lot of room for improvement ahead of him. Let us now analyze the differences between Wembanyama’s first steps and those of his predecessors.

Let’s take a look at his scoring talent

In total, Wembanyama recorded 2,238 points in his career. Since Olajuwon and Michael Jordan burst onto the scene in the 1984-85 season, only seven players have scored more points than him in their first 100 games. If Wemby manages to score 21 or more points in his number 100 game against Denver, he will only be trailed by five players.

And his rebounding performance?

Wembanyama grabbed 1,035 rebounds. Only 10 players have performed better in their first 100 games, and he only needs four rebounds in his 100th game to join that list.

The cons?

Wembanyama made 364 blocks. Only two players posted better stats than him in their first 100 games. To put things into perspective, he surpassed Mark Eaton’s mark of 342.

The assists

Wembanyama delivered 382 passes, surpassing several iconic crosses over this period.

The 3-point address

Over the first 100 games, Wembanyama made 221 3-pointers, a total that puts him at the top of the rankings.

Final context

If Wemby maintains his current averages, he will be only the third player in history to post at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks per season, across all ages. What can we envision for its future in five or ten years? The possibilities seem limitless and it is difficult to predict the extent of its evolution.

(Photo : Luke Hales / Getty Images)