June 24, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs draft pick Victor Wembanyama speaks during a press conference at AT&T Center.Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Even though the San Antonio Spurs are one of the worst teams in the league, Victor Wembanyama continues to make history in his rookie season. However, it’s clear for the young center that failure means more to him than his individual achievements.
Vunbanyama scored 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks and 5 steals in a 5×5 game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, which the team lost 123-118. This performance made him the second player in NBA history to record five blocks and five steals in back-to-back games, behind only Michael Jordan.
Still, Wembanyama wasn’t too impressed. When asked about joining Jordan’s elite team, the rookie center responded by questioning whether Jordan was doing so in defeat.
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on five-steal, five-block game with Michael Jordan: ‘I wonder if he’s doing it in a win A little bit, not in defeat. For me, that’s secondary. Hopefully… we can look back and think it was a good performance. As of today, I can’t be satisfied with defeat.” pic.twitter.com/ITAd0bupxr
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 24, 2024
“I want to know that he did it in victory rather than in defeat. To me, that’s secondary,” Wembanyama said. “Hopefully in the future we will look back and feel that this was a good performance. As of today, I cannot be satisfied with failure.”
Wembanyama is arguably already great, but he wants his team to be great. Friday’s loss dropped his Spurs’ record to 11-46 on the season, which is clearly more important to him than his statistical results. After seeing what the rookie is capable of, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the centerpiece of a Spurs team that’s at least playoff-caliber.
For reference, Jordan did accomplish the feat of back-to-back wins in February 1987, so Wembanyama’s suspicions were correct.