SAN ANTONIO — Recently, in an electrifying performance where he scored an impressive 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs center, Victor Wembanyamacelebrated its 21st birthday this Saturday. What a way to mark the occasion!
And let’s be clear: Wemby has already accomplished a remarkable amount in the NBA before he even reached the legal drinking age.
Having played 100 games to date, Wembanyama is averaging an impressive 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and an incredible 3.7 blocks per game. He is shooting 47% from the field and 34% from behind the arc, making 2.3 three-pointers per game. Those numbers put him among the league’s elite.
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According to Stat Muse et Basketball ReferenceWemby had 2,273 points in his career, placing him 12th all-time in points scored before turning 21. He stands behind legends like LeBron James (4 649 points), Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Edwardsand others. Notably, he surpassed other greats like Kevin Garnett, Jayson Tatumet Tony Parker.
However, it is worth noting that Wemby’s 100 games played are the fewest among those on this prestigious list. To contextualize, Jalen Greenwho sits just above him, appeared in 118 games before turning 21, while LeBron played 186 games.
When it comes to points per game, Wembanyama shines even more, averaging 22.7 points, which ranks him 5th all-time for players who spent more than one season in the NBA. He is tied with Durant and surpasses notable names like Carmelo Anthony et Kyrie Irving.
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Wemby also accumulated 1,053 total rebounds, placing him 14th in that category, despite a significantly smaller sample size compared to players like Dwight Howard et LeBron James. His rebounding prowess is also reflected in his 10.5 rebounds per game, which ranks him 4th, behind rebounding giants like Shaquille O’Neal et Andre Drummond.
At an imposing 2.21 meters tall, Wemby made a remarkable impact on defense, posting the 2nd most blocks in NBA history (366) before turning 21, trailing only Josh Smith (381). Wemby also ranks just behind Shaq in blocks per game, averaging 3.7 to Shaquille’s 3.9, despite playing fewer games.
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As the modern game places more and more emphasis on long-range shooting, Wemby has kept pace, making 225 three-pointers before he turned 21, placing him 9th in total made shots. He holds the distinction of being the highest-ranked center on this list and the tallest player (over 2.13 meters) to achieve such a feat.
When thinking about historical comparisons, consider where the legendary shooter was Stephen Curry at 21: still three months away from getting drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2009. So, for those wondering if Wemby can match Curry’s legacy, he’s certainly on a promising trajectory.
Having already won the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award and led the league in blocks as a rookie, Wemby looks poised to dominate again in his second year, counting more than 40 blocks ahead of the next player, Walker Kessleras of January 4.
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Wemby is also a strong contender for the title of Defensive Player of the Yearwhich would make him the youngest NBA player to receive this honor at age 21. Oddly enough, former Spurs stars Kawhi Leonard et Alvin Robertson are currently tied with Dwight Howard et Jaren Jackson Jr. for the record, all having won the honor at the age of 23.
A notable feat of note is that Wemby became the fourth youngest player to score 50 points in a game when he accomplished this feat on November 13, 2024, at just 20 years and 314 days old, beating him only Brandon Jennings, LeBron Jameset Devin Booker.
In a curious parallel, another NBA superstar, LeBron Jamesrecently celebrated a birthday, but instead of turning 21, he celebrated his 40th.
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If anyone can match Wemby’s accomplishments before he turned 21, it’s LeBron. King averaged 25 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.9 steals in 186 games before turning 21 in 2005. Compared to Wemby’s impressive stats, it’s a debate captivating.
While LeBron had an All-Star selection and an All-NBA 2nd team nomination at this age, Wemby, who looks set to join that club soon, has a slight minus in the plus-minus stats.
The historical context of the Spurs’ legacy shows that on Tim Duncan’s 21st birthday, he was preparing for the 1997 NBA draft; David Robinson was still in the Navy, and Manu Ginobili had yet to debut four years later. None of them had even worn black and silver at 21.
well that Kawhi Leonard was with the Spurs, he averaged a modest 7.9 points in 24 minutes played before he turned 21, while Tony Parker only averaged 12.4 points and 4.8 assists at the same age.
These astonishing statistics and achievements paint a promising picture for the blossoming career of this exceptional French sensation.
