Victor Wembanyama continues to move forward at a hundred miles an hour. The French interior played his 100th NBA game on Friday January 3, during the victory of San Antonio against Denver (113 – 110). A match where the Spurs player once again stood out, scoring 35 points, grabbing 18 rebounds and making 2 blocks. If his collective record is progressing but remains modest, the Frenchman is having, on a personal level, an exceptional start to his career in the NBA.
Already loaded with individual awards
The first Frenchman drafted in first position, the 2.21m “alien” was extremely anticipated, and he absolutely did not disappoint in his first season. “Rookie” of the year, also a first for a Habs, fourth youngest player to reach 50 points, and recently elected player of the week, “Wemby” could hardly do better to start.
This season, he increased his points average (25.6 compared to 21.4 last year), his shooting percentages, but above all his collective results. After 34 games, Spurs are currently 8th of the Western Conference, with 18/16 victories, while they only won 22 over the entirety of last season.
Three points ahead of… Stephen Curry
More dazzling than the absolute reference. On December 23, Victor Wembanyama became the fastest player to reach 200 career three-pointers in 94 games. Seven games less than Stephen Curry (101 games), considered the best shooter in history. He is also faster than Ray Allen and James Harden, who complete the podium of the best three-point shooters in history.
If the performance is remarkable, this classification being almost exclusively reserved for the rears, smaller and faster, it also needs to be qualified. The Frenchman attempts many more, with a significantly lower success rate: 33.3% (201/603) for Wembanyama compared to 43.7% (200/458) for Curry.
A start worthy of the greatest blockers
Counterattacks are Victor Wembanyama’s trademark. Best in the league last year in this exercise (3.6 per match), he even managed to increase his average this season (3.9). This is the best average since one of the Dikembe Mutombo references in 1995-1996. In his rookie season, he became the 6th fastest player since 1973-74 to reach the 100 block mark, and had his first match with 10 blocks after only 48 games.
Among active players who have played 100 games or less, he is by far the player with the most blocks (366), ahead of Oklahoma City player Chet Holmgren (216 in 92 games), and from Dallas, Derek Lively (122 in 82 games).
For comparison, Frenchman Alexandre Sarr, drafted in second position this year, has 49 after 28 games. At the same stage, “Wemby” had 87. “He uses the gifts that God gave him. Combined with his ability to cover space, that’s what makes him so special as a defender. He’s athletic enough to move quickly and he’s big enough to deflect the shots”admired New York Knicks interior Karl-Anthony Towns in late December.
A historic first Christmas match
On December 25, Victor Wembanyama had the opportunity to shine even more in a match scrutinized by everyone: the Christmas match. With 42 points against the Knicks, he became the third highest scorer in history for a first Christmas game, behind Wilt Chamberlain (45 points) and Tracy McGrady (43). Even LeBron James (34) and Michael Jordan (30) did not do better.
“Wemby” is even the only player in history to have scored 40 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and made five three-pointers during a Christmas Day. “Man, my Godexclaimed his evening opponent, Josh Hart. He is different. The League will be in good hands when LeBron James and Kevin Durant are no longer around. The height at which he fires his shot is so high, and with his ability to get it in, it makes everything easier for his team.”
Well on your way to discovering the All-Star Game
Just before his 100th match, Victor Wembanyama was able to measure his already immense popularity. On January 2, the NBA published a first count of votes for the All-Star Game, which brings together the stars each year in February for a gala match.
Aith 928,501 votes, the 20-year-old Habs are in 10th place total space. But he is only in 5th place in the Western Conference (behind Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Anthony Davis) while only the first three will be starters.
It will undoubtedly be difficult for him to get past the top three, but the Frenchman should then be chosen by the coaches to be a replacement. He would then be the fourth Habs to participate, after Tony Parker (six times), Rudy Gobert (three times) and Joakim Noah (twice). But he would be, by far, the one who would be selected the earliest in his career across the Atlantic.
