Tag: Victor Wembanyama

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NBA (Basketball)

A standout group of six All-Star rookies: Wembanyama, Herro, Williams, Sengun, Mobley, and Cunningham

Victor Wembanyama celebrates a basket in the 1st half

Victor Wembanyama attended All-Star weekend in Indianapolis last year as a major attraction. The San Antonio star participated in the league’s Tech Summit, played in the Rising Stars event, and took part in the Skills Challenge.

He left the event with a clear objective.

“Next year, hopefully, the big game,” Wembanyama said.

That time has arrived. The big game — or games — are here.

Wembanyama, as expected, is a first-time All-Star who will compete in the NBA’s new All-Star mini-tournament this Sunday in San Francisco. He’ll join these seven players: Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Atlanta’s Trae Young, and another first-timer, Houston’s Alperen Sengun.

Wembanyama’s selection seemed almost guaranteed. The reigning rookie of the year has become a global sensation. The NBA mentions that Wembanyama’s social media content is among the most viewed of all players, and his jersey ranks No. 5 in global sales.

“I’ve been talking to a few people about a moment he had when he was in New York,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He played the Knicks on Christmas Day and then played the Brooklyn Nets a few days later. He spent some time in New York, and Victor, who plays chess, went to a famous park, Washington Square Park, and set up his chessboard and started playing games. Within a few days, about 100 million people saw that on social media.”

“It just shows the popularity of Victor and the huge interest in the lifestyles and hobbies of players. That was remarkable.”

This year, six rookies have made the All-Star game: Wembanyama, Sengun, Miami’s Tyler Herro, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams. Among them, Wembanyama is the youngest (just turned 21), the tallest (officially 7-foot-3), and will likely attract the most attention in San Francisco this weekend.

“I think that was one of the most active days in our group chat since the summer when Vic made the All-Star Game,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said. “It’s a testament to who he is. He works incredibly hard. He gets so much attention, but he always tries to keep the focus on the team and not on himself.”

Out of the six rookies, Herro is the oldest and the most experienced in the NBA. He’s averaging 23.5 points this season.

Cade Cunningham in the 2nd half

“I’m truly proud of him because a lot of media has criticized him,” Heat captain Bam Adebayo said. “His name has been thrown in trade rumors, people said he’s not good enough, that he can’t do certain things. It’s a real testament to him.”

For Williams, the All-Star appearance is like a homecoming. The Thunder guard played college basketball at Santa Clara, which is about an hour from Chase Center, where he’ll play on Sunday night.

“What am I most excited about? Honestly, I haven’t seen my parents in a while, so I’m excited to see them. I’ll be so close to my school, so I think it’ll be cool. I’ll see people I haven’t seen in a while.”

Cunningham is leading one of the NBA’s surprise teams this season. The Pistons, who struggled last year, are now in the playoff race, with Cunningham’s 25.4 points per game being a key reason for the turnaround.

“It feels amazing. It’s hard to put into words,” Cunningham said. “There’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of wins, losses, lessons, everything leading up to this moment. I’m just grateful for it.”

Sengun is part of the Rockets’ revival. While they missed the playoffs last year, they are now in position to secure home-court advantage for Round 1 in a competitive Western Conference.

“Thank you to my team, my country, the city of Houston, and all the fans for believing in me,” Sengun said. “This is just the beginning.”

Mobley’s All-Star selection highlights the value of defense and rebounding in the NBA. He is a key player for Cleveland, which enters the break with the best record in the Eastern Conference, tied with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA.

“I worked really hard to get to this point,” Mobley said. “I hope there’s more to come.”

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NBA (Basketball)

In San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama has been named an All-Star, one of six players selected for the first time

Victor Wembanyama reacts after scoring in the 2nd half

NBA coaches are clearly impressed: Victor Wembanyama is one of the league’s top players.

The San Antonio Spurs star and reigning rookie of the year has earned his first All-Star selection, named one of the 14 reserve players for the event on February 16 in San Francisco.

Wembanyama is only the fourth Spurs player to make the All-Star Game in his first or second season. The other three are Alvin Robertson in 1986, David Robinson in 1990 and 1991, and Tim Duncan in 1998.

“It’s just a testament to his first year and a half in this league and the work he put in prior to that and trusting the process of trying to get incrementally better, not skipping steps,” acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said about Wembanyama last week in Paris when asked about his chances for the All-Star Game. “And then, obviously, that allows the talent and unique skill set to shine through.”

Coaches choose the reserve players, after the 10 starting spots were decided last week through fan voting (50%), media voting (25%), and player voting (25%).

On Thursday, seven players from each conference were picked. In the Eastern Conference: Jaylen Brown of Boston, Pascal Siakam of Indiana, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley from Cleveland, Cade Cunningham from Detroit, Damian Lillard from Milwaukee (the previous year’s All-Star MVP), and Tyler Herro from Miami.

From the Western Conference: Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards from Minnesota, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers, Jaren Jackson Jr. of Memphis, Alperen Sengun from Houston, and Jalen Williams from Oklahoma City.

Wembanyama, Cunningham, Mobley, Herro, Sengun, and Williams are first-time All-Stars.

“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of,” Herro said.

The 10 starters picked last week were

Stephen Curry from Golden State, Kevin Durant from Phoenix, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (his 21st All-Star selection), Nikola Jokic from Denver, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns from New York, Donovan Mitchell from Cleveland, and Jayson Tatum from Boston.

Teams with multiple selections include Cleveland (3), the Lakers (2), Oklahoma City (2), Boston (2), Milwaukee (2), and New York (2). Golden State, Phoenix, Denver, Minnesota, the Clippers, Memphis, Houston, San Antonio, Detroit, Indiana, and Miami each have one selection.

Teams without an All-Star selection are Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, and Washington.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA)

This year, there will be at least 15 players “starting” in the All-Star Game. The format is new, with three games. The 24 All-Stars will be drafted into three teams of eight players each by TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.

The draft will be held on February 6.

The three teams will compete in a four-team tournament, with the fourth team made up of NBA rookies and second-year players from the Rising Stars event on All-Star Friday, February 14. The format includes two semifinal games, with the winners meeting in a championship game. The games will be quick; the first team to reach 40 points wins.

The league changed the format to make the games more competitive after last year’s All-Star Game set a record for the most points in a game, a 211-186 game full of 3-pointers and dunks.

“We went back to the drawing board,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We had direct conversations with many of the players, many of the perennial All-Stars, to talk about what it is that we could put together from a competitive standpoint. I’m optimistic this year that we landed on a formula that will work.”

Oklahoma City’s coach Mark Daigneault and one of his assistants will coach two of the teams, while Cleveland’s coach Kenny Atkinson and one of his assistants will lead the others.

Some big names who didn’t make the cut are Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who missed out on being a starter and didn’t get enough support from coaches to be a reserve, along with Atlanta’s Trae Young, Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, Dallas’ Kyrie Irving, and Luka Doncic (who has played only 22 games). The Clippers’ Norman Powell also missed out.

Ball is fourth in the NBA with 28.2 points per game, plus 7.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds. If he continues at this pace, he could be the first player in NBA history not to make the All-Star Game despite those numbers. Doncic, who has played enough games to qualify if not for injuries, is fifth in scoring at 28.1 points per game, along with 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists.

It’s possible that one or both players could be named injury replacements by Silver if necessary.

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NFL (American Football)

Frustration builds for Spurs’ Wembanyama in San Antonio after Zubac’s shove sends him tumbling

Ivica Zubac and Victor Wembanyama in the 1st half

Victor Wembanyama had reached his breaking point.

The San Antonio star charged at Ivica Zubac after the Los Angeles center shoved him to the floor during the Clippers’ 128-116 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night.

Wembanyama’s frustration, stemming from what he feels is a lack of calls and respect from officials, boiled over late in the third quarter and during his postgame interview.

“So … it’s not even about Zubac,” Wembanyama said. “It’s just frustration, no matter who it was.”

When asked if he believes officials treat him fairly, Wembanyama bluntly responded, “No.”

The shove from Zubac added to the growing physical challenges Wembanyama has faced.

Earlier in the third quarter, Zubac had yelled at the referees for not calling a foul on Harrison Barnes after the Spurs forward blocked his layup. The frustration escalated when Wembanyama blocked Zubac’s dunk attempt with 4:49 left in the third quarter, and no foul was called.

Zubac showed his frustration, was slow on defense, and saw Barnes hit a 3-pointer to cut the Clippers’ lead to 85-78. Zubac then rushed into the paint, gave Wembanyama a hard hip check and elbow to his back, sending him tumbling to the baseline.

Wembanyama quickly gathered himself and charged at Zubac, but the Spurs coaching staff and players rushed onto the court to hold him back as Clippers coach Ty Lue called a timeout after Barnes’ 3-pointer.

“I reacted a little,” Zubac said. “I thought I got fouled (on the previous play). I was mad at the refs. So, then I was late (on Harrison Barnes’ 3-point shot). I saw it going up. I saw Wemby crashing, so I knew I had to box him out. I bumped him a little harder. I let emotions take over a little bit, but I apologized to him. That’s not the way I want to be on the court and compete.”

Victor Wembanyama reacts after scoring in the 2nd half

Zubac finished with 21 points and 22 rebounds, while Wembanyama had 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite the shove, no foul was called, and no technical foul was given to Wembanyama. After a quick discussion, officials did not review the play.

The lack of a call angered Wembanyama and the Spurs.

“I thought there was a few plays that should have been taken care of a little bit earlier,” San Antonio acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. “You’ll get reactions like that. It’s probably surprising he hasn’t reacted like that earlier, to be honest. He gets a lot of contact, and at some point, he’s going to have to continue to protect himself if the people controlling the game, supposedly, are not going to do that.”

Wembanyama explained that teams are trying to limit his unique skill set, especially his ability to shoot 3-pointers and dribble like a guard, by pushing and leaning on his 235-pound frame.

“So it’s a hard thing to fight, because it feels unfair sometimes,” Wembanyama said. “But, of course, we talk about it with the staff, and there is some stuff I have to do to help myself. First of all, being strong and not bailing out shots, but also there is some work to do.

Talking to the refs, of course, explaining myself. But for me, it doesn’t feel like it’s something I should influence. I’m a basketball player, I’m here to play, and yeah, this is why it’s frustrating. It’s not my job to do politics.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Top 2026 NBA prospect Dybantsa, from Boston, dreams of teaming up with Wembanyama

A.J. Dybantsa (NBA)

The idea of playing with Victor Wembanyama might one day attract other stars to the San Antonio Spurs, but he’s already drawing the next generation of players.

That’s the message from A.J. Dybantsa, the nation’s top-rated high school player and potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Dybantsa, who committed to BYU in December, traveled to Paris this week for the NBA’s Global Games and to get a close look at Wembanyama. He told ESPN that he hopes the Spurs will draft him next year so they can play together.

“I think Victor is just ridiculous; the things he does are just crazy,” said Dybantsa, whose Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) high school team had the week off.

“I just think we would’ve been a crazy duo. Now the odds of that happening are very slim. But I mean, it was just a thought that came up in my mind when he got drafted. But you never know.”

The Spurs are already close to matching their win total from last season, and with Wembanyama continuing to improve, the chances of the Spurs being at the top of the 2026 draft when Dybantsa is expected to be picked are unlikely. So, the possibility of them playing together isn’t very high right now.

Victor Wembanyama reacts in the game

Dybantsa, who stands 6-foot-9 and turns 18 on Wednesday, is in Paris for this week’s games, which reminds him of two years ago when a 19-year-old Wembanyama sat courtside at a Detroit Pistons-Chicago Bulls game. Wembanyama was the main attraction in Saturday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, and Dybantsa hopes to follow that same path.

“That’s the goal,” Dybantsa said.

Last weekend, Dybantsa scored 25 points in a loss to Monteverde Academy in a showcase game in Springfield, Massachusetts. He’ll soon return to the U.S. to continue working on his game. It’s still unclear what position he might play in the future, but Dybantsa has shown he can play both on and off the ball.

“I’m working on improving my shot. I’m trying to shoot 40% from the 3-point line,” he said. “Obviously I’ve got to extend my range because the farther up I go, the farther the [3-point] line gets.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Victor Wembanyama shines in Paris, scoring 30 points as the Spurs dominate the Pacers 140-110

Victor Wembanyama reacts in the 2nd half

On Thursday, Victor Wembanyama made a big return to Paris.

The San Antonio Spurs star, who grew up outside of Paris and played in the French basketball league for five years, came back to France this week for a game against the Indiana Pacers. With the home crowd cheering him on, Wembanyama helped lead the Spurs to a 140-110 victory over the Pacers at the Accor Arena.

The 21-year-old center was welcomed by loud cheers from the French fans.

Wembanyama didn’t disappoint, delivering an exciting performance with several key plays as the Spurs built their lead.

After trailing for most of the first half, the Spurs took the lead just before halftime. In the third quarter, they scored 45 points, leaving the Pacers unable to catch up. The game ended in a 30-point win for San Antonio.

With the game under control, Wembanyama and the other starters sat on the bench for the last few minutes. As he did, the fans in the arena started chanting “MVP.”

Wembanyama finished the game with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.

Veteran guard Chris Paul praised Wembanyama after the game, saying he played really well under pressure. “This is one of the best complete games I’ve seen him play all season long.

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

With the expectations, being at home, in front of all his family and friends, in front of all you guys, some guys could get lost in the game and start maybe doing too much or not, but I think he played a great game (at) both ends of the court,” Paul said.

Wembanyama has had a busy week in France. On Tuesday, he opened two outdoor basketball courts in his hometown of Le Chesnay. On Wednesday, he attended a Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, where PSG won 4-2.

On Thursday, he capped off a great performance with a big win for the Spurs in his hometown.

In his postgame interview, Wembanyama said the energy from the crowd helped the Spurs win. “It’s a different kind of support that the crowd brings. We tried to use the circumstances to our advantage every time, and tonight was an easy night to use those in our advantage,” he said.

He also expressed pride in the moment. “I felt proud of us, proud of myself, proud of being French,” Wembanyama said. “It just confirmed what I thought was gonna happen.”

Wembanyama and the Spurs will face the Pacers again in Paris on Saturday, this time as the official home team.

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NBA (Basketball)

In Le Chesnay, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs opens two new outdoor courts for local kids to enjoy

Victor Wembanyama inaugurates a basketball court

Victor Wembanyama stood on the center line of a new outdoor court in his hometown, stretching his arms to their full 8-foot wingspan as photographers snapped pictures. He looked thrilled.

Wembanyama presented a special gift to his hometown and future basketball stars on Tuesday: two outdoor courts — one for 5-on-5 play and the other for 3-on-3. He designed them himself, sketching out the plans and ensuring they matched his vision.

“For those of you that don’t know, this started in a room with an idea,” said San Antonio general manager Brian Wright, addressing a group of about 60 children and around 100 others watching from nearby seats.

“I remember watching Victor going on a whiteboard and literally drawing every single detail of the court that you see today and putting his heart and soul into designing this court for the children to play on. It speaks to how special you are and how special this is to you, so thank you, Victor.”

Wembanyama and the Spurs are currently in France, preparing for games against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday and Saturday in Paris. While many believe he’s from Paris, Wembanyama is actually from Le Chesnay, a small town about 12 miles west of the city.

It was important for him to have the courts finished before the Spurs’ visit, though some doubted it could be done in time.

“Impossible,” said Le Chesnay’s mayor, Richard Delepierre.

There were many obstacles: old courts that needed to be removed, approval for designs, weather issues, and the difficulty of building near the Palace of Versailles. But Wembanyama’s determination made it happen.

“Beyond his immense basketball talents, it seems that Victor possesses great qualities of art and a certain capacity for persuasion,” Delepierre said.

Construction began just a couple of months ago, but by Tuesday, the courts were finished. The nets were tight, waiting for their first shot, and the children pulled back a black drape to reveal the center court design, which combined elements from both the Spurs’ logo and the Le Chesnay clock tower. Wembanyama caught a lob and dunked to mark the opening.

Victor Wembanyama meets his young fans

“It was my dream also to have these kind of courts when I was living here,” Wembanyama said.

Le Chesnay is a small city with about 30,000 residents, located just west of downtown Paris. From the town hall, there’s a view of the Palace of Versailles, which once served as the home of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Local legend has it that Napoleon sometimes visited the area and even ordered that trees be planted in a particular way along the streets.

This is where Wembanyama’s love for basketball grew. Most of Le Chesnay’s residents, known as Chesnaycourtois and Chesnaycourtoises, engage in some type of sport. Wembanyama stirred up excitement in the town last year when he brought friends to play a pickup soccer game, using the same field they once did as kids. The town also has a passion for handball, auto racing, and equestrian sports, and in 2009, a filly named Le Chesnay raced at the Saratoga Race Course.

Now, though, it’s a basketball town. Kids can be found playing the game all over Le Chesnay, many wearing Spurs jerseys or T-shirts. Wembanyama’s mother, Elodie de Fautereau, a former standout player and coach, helped shape his basketball journey.

“The Spurs ‘Play Paris’ initiative isn’t just about building a court, it’s about creating a vibrant hub for the community that honors Victor’s journey and his commitment to giving back,” said RC Buford, CEO of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. “This renovated space will hopefully inspire the next generation and showcase the power of sports to bring people together.”

Although the Spurs haven’t disclosed the exact cost of the project, Delepierre mentioned that it was a significant part of the total estimated budget of $500,000. It’s worth mentioning that the courts aren’t designed to be a tribute to Wembanyama, though they feature the Le Chesnay city logo and the Spurs logo. There’s nothing overtly focused on his name.

Wembanyama didn’t want the courts to be all about him. And they were completed just in time.

“Impossible,” Delepierre said, reversing his earlier statement. “Is not French.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Victor Wembanyama scores 42 points in a remarkable Christmas debut, but the Spurs lose to the Knicks

Victor Wembanyama and Josh Hart in the 2nd half

Victor Wembanyama almost set a new record for the Spurs on Christmas Day during his first-ever Christmas game.cHe came close to winning too.

His 42 points and 18 rebounds helped the San Antonio Spurs stay in the game, but they fell short as the New York Knicks won 117-114 on Wednesday.

After the game, Wembanyama, who had one of the best Christmas debuts in NBA history, said, “I’m thinking about the game right now,” before adding, “we were close but we lack some attributes at times.”

He stared at the box score, clearly impressed with his performance. In addition to the 42 points and 18 rebounds, he had six 3-pointers, four blocked shots, and four assists.

Only Wilt Chamberlain (45 points in 1959) and Tracy McGrady (43 in 2000) scored more points in their first Christmas game than Wembanyama. LaMarcus Aldridge had the highest point total for the Spurs on Christmas Day with 33 in 2016.

“Us that see him day in and day out, we’re not surprised by that,” said Spurs veteran Chris Paul. “I think, for us, the next step is winning those games.”

Wembanyama also came close to breaking the Spurs’ record for rebounds on Christmas. David Robinson holds that record with 19 rebounds in 1999.

Victor Wembanyama reacts in the 2nd half

In the final minute, Wembanyama had a couple of chances to grab rebounds from missed shots by the Knicks, but Josh Hart collected both, allowing the Knicks to run out the clock.

Wembanyama said, “It sure feels like you can’t do anything about it, but this is why you have to do everything you can before when you can.”

The Spurs played on Christmas Day mainly because of Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 rookie from France, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft and won Rookie of the Year honors. He was also named Western Conference Player of the Week last week after averaging 32.7 points and 7.3 blocks in his previous three games.

Wembanyama leads the NBA in blocks and has been shooting more 3-pointers than ever, hitting six on Wednesday, bringing his total to 23 in his last four games.

“He’s taking a lot of long 3s. He took a lot of 3s. He’s a different Wemby than what I remember the rookie year,” said Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns.

When asked how to defend a player like Wembanyama, Towns said, “If the physicality is allowed, I think it’s possible you can do more stuff. Also, if someone just finds the potion somewhere to be 7-5, 7-6, then we (would) be solid.”

Wembanyama and Knicks guard Mikal Bridges, who scored a season-high 41 points, became the first pair of opposing players to score 40 or more points on Christmas since 1961, when Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson did it.

As long as Wembanyama is on the team, the Spurs will likely get more chances to play on Christmas Day.

Wembanyama said, “Tonight just proved that we’re not ready yet,” but he was positive about the way the Spurs played and predicted they would get used to playing that way.

“This is how I see it, because it’s high effort to play like that but it’s also high rewards.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Spurs uncertain about Victor Wembanyama’s availability for upcoming game against the Kings

Victor Wembanyama talks to his teammates

The San Antonio Spurs are hoping to have their star player, Victor Wembanyama, back in action as they look to end a two-game losing streak when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

This game will be the second part of a back-to-back for both teams.

The Spurs lost 139-124 at home to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday without Wembanyama, who was out with a sore back. Sacramento also lost, 115-110, to the Memphis Grizzlies on the road, marking their third loss in the last four games.

San Antonio struggled in the first half, allowing 73 points and trailing by 16 at halftime. They made a late comeback, cutting the lead to eight points with 3:18 remaining, but then gave up nine straight points, running out of time and energy.

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 28 points off the bench, and Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Spurs, who never led, lost their third game in the last four.

“Lethargic would be the word — just a lack of energy in the early going,” said acting coach Mitch Johnson. “Once we got going, we made a game of it. But giving up 73 points in the first half and 68 points in the paint are difficult to come back from. We have to do a better job.”

Wembanyama is expected to be listed as questionable for the Friday game but should return for the Spurs’ home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

Victor Wembanyama reacts in the game

Sacramento led for much of their game against Memphis, even going up by 12 points in the second quarter. However, Memphis pulled ahead in the end after a 6-0 run. Despite another strong effort by Malik Monk, who scored 23 points, the Kings couldn’t hold on.

Monk moved into the starting lineup this week, and Sacramento is still trying to find the right rotation. On Thursday, their bench was outscored 60-15 by the Grizzlies’ reserves.

“With Malik, I just looked him in the eye and told him what I think and listened to him about how he feels about the switch to the starting lineup because I need to listen to him,” said Sacramento coach Mike Brown. “I need to hear him out, and then I need to make the best decision, not for him, but for the team, while keeping him in mind.”

The Spurs have won both games in their season series so far, including a two-point victory in Sacramento on Sunday, where Wembanyama recorded his first triple-double of the season with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

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Victor Wembanyama Leaves NBA Fans in Awe Despite San Antonio Spurs’ Defeat Against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celticsb

Victor Wembanyama Impresses NBA Fans Despite Spurs’ Loss to Jayson Tatum, Celtics

Victor Wembanyama’s inaugural visit to TD Garden unfolded differently than anticipated, concluding with a 117-98 defeat at the hands of Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Despite this setback, the Celtics extended their unbeaten home record to 20-0 and maintained the NBA’s best overall record at 32-9.

Wembanyama, displaying resilience amid the loss, delivered a commendable performance with 27 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one block in 27 minutes of play. It’s noteworthy, however, that Kristaps Porziņģis was sidelined due to knee soreness, and Wembanyama primarily faced off against bench players Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta. This raises speculation about how the French sensation might have fared against a more formidable defender like Porziņģis.

Victor Wembanyama Leaves NBA Fans in Awe Despite San Antonio Spurs' Defeat Against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics
Victor Wembanyama Leaves NBA Fans in Awe Despite San Antonio Spurs’ Defeat Against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics

Despite operating under a minutes restriction, Wembanyama’s achievements in Boston on Wednesday were undeniably impressive. NBA enthusiasts took notice, showering him with praise as he secured 25-plus points for the third consecutive game. Twitter erupted with admiration for Wembanyama’s skills, with fans highlighting his unique abilities, left-handed running banker, and guard-like prowess on the court.

While the struggling San Antonio Spurs, now with a 7-33 season record, face challenges in the Western Conference standings, Wembanyama emerges as a beacon of hope for the franchise. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick is proving his mettle in his rookie season, boasting averages of 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.2 blocks in 34 games. His shooting percentages stand at 45.9 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Wembanyama stands prominently in the Rookie of the Year race alongside competitors like Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the second half of the season still ahead, Wembanyama has ample opportunity to solidify his claim to the coveted rookie honor.