During the first week of the NBA season, all eyes were on 19-year-old rookie Victor Wembanyama, and he certainly lived up to the hype on Friday. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Wembanyama, made an impressive comeback to defeat the Houston Rockets 126-122 in overtime.
In a crucial moment with his team down by two points and only 20 seconds remaining in regulation, the young Frenchman made a game-tying shot. Wembanyama finished the game with a remarkable double-double, tallying 21 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals at the Frost Bank Center.
According to ESPN’s Stats and Information, Wembanyama became only the second Spurs player to achieve 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in his first two career games.
Standing at an imposing 7 feet 4 inches and possessing an incredible 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama showcases a unique skill set that is rarely seen in the NBA.
He is expected to make a significant impact on the defensive end during his rookie season, a quality he has already displayed in preseason and his debut on Wednesday, using his remarkable reach to disrupt opponents.
“I absolutely love winning,” said Wembanyama, as reported by ESPN. “It’s my greatest passion in life, so it feels incredibly satisfying.”
Spurs guard Devin Vassell had high praise for the 19-year-old, who was the top pick in this year’s draft.
“I mentioned this after our first preseason game or scrimmage, but he’s going to produce some jaw-dropping plays at least once per game, and tonight, he probably had three or four,” he noted, according to ESPN. “It’s a testament to his abilities, and as I keep emphasizing, he simplifies the game for us, and we need to do the same for him.”
In other NBA action, Luka Dončić put on an impressive performance, scoring 49 points, including four consecutive three-pointers in the final quarter, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 125-120 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Golden State Warriors secured a 122-114 win against the Sacramento Kings, with Steph Curry delivering a game-high 41 points.
Nikola Jokić was also in top form, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists as the NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, narrowly defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 108-104.