Anthony GharibESPN4 min read
For two weeks, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has lived up to expectations.
Wenbanyama averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game (second in the NBA, behind Anthony Davis’ 3.3).
The No. 1 pick led the Spurs to a win over the Phoenix Suns last week, scoring a career-high 38 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He became the third player in the past 40 seasons to score at least 35 points and 10 rebounds in his first five career games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Wembunyama is also the third player to score at least 120 points and 15 blocks in his first six career games.
The 7-foot-4 center will make his debut against the Knicks on Wednesday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, adding another chapter to his strong rookie season (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET).
In preparation for Wembanyama’s first game at MSG, here are some highlights from a visiting rookie at the Garden, which opened in 1968.
Elvin Hayes(1968)
MSG’s second-highest scoring total by a visiting rookie came in 1968 (stay tuned for the player tied for first).
While playing for the San Diego Rockets, Hayes scored 39 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 48.4% from the field. It’s worth noting that Hayes’ 39 points didn’t even come close to his scoring high in 1968-69: he scored 54, 45 and 40 points (five times).
Pete Maravich (1970), Jay Vincent (1982)
Maravich and Vincent tied for the most points scored by a visiting team rookie in a single game with 40 points.
Then with the Atlanta Hawks, Maravich scored 40 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists on 58% shooting, but ultimately lost the game by 9 points. Maravich scored at least 40 points twice more as a rookie and earned 1970-71 NBA All-Rookie Team honors.
In his rookie season in 1981-82, Vincent scored 40 points and 10 rebounds on 77% shooting in his MSG debut. He was also named to the All-Rookie Team.
Michael Jordan(1985)
“His Airness” had many famous games at Madison Square Garden, including a 55-point performance in 1994-95. Jordan’s career average of 31.8 points at MSG is the highest of any visiting player (at least 10 games).
Jordan’s debut set the tone for his future performances at the Garden. The Chicago Bulls posted a 15-point victory, with Jordan scoring 33 points in 33 minutes of play. He also contributed 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks while shooting 68% from the field, one of his best shooting percentages in a game that season.
David Robinson (1989) and Tim Duncan (1997)
Wembunyama is the first player selected by the Spurs with the first overall pick since Tim Duncan (1997). Duncan and David Robinson (also the Spurs’ No. 1 pick in 1987) both made their respective debuts in New York.
Robinson scored 27 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks on 60% shooting. Duncan had a double-double — 25 points and 10 rebounds on 62 percent shooting — as well as two blocks and a steal in the 17-point victory.
Robinson and Duncan were also named Rookie of the Year respectively (Robinson in 1989-90; Duncan in 1997-98), setting a high standard for Wembanyama.
If there’s one player who understands what it’s like to enter the NBA with expectations similar to Wembanya’s, it’s LeBron James.
James was considered “The Chosen One,” having averaged 28 points, 7.5 assists and 6.9 rebounds in his MSG career, but his debut was rather quiet. James scored 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal with a 35% shooting rate, helping the Cavaliers win with a 6-point advantage. Like everyone else on this list, he was named to the All-Rookie team and earned Rookie of the Year honors.
This article uses data from ESPN Stats & Information.