Spurs rookie Victor Vembanyama has quickly established himself as a game-changing youngster similar to LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
When the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, many believed it would take time for the 19-year-old Frenchman to develop into one of the most impactful players in the league. One, the reason is his efficiency in dealing with physical issues. But Wembanyama put all those concerns to rest with a stellar performance against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
Wembanyama already had a big game as he scored 20 points in the first half against the Suns on Thursday night. But he took his game to the next level in the fourth quarter as the Suns threatened to pull a UNO comeback card against the Spurs and claw back from a 20-point deficit. He made 15 of 26 shots, 3 of 6 three-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws. He scored 38 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
In doing so, Victor Wembanyama became Just the third boy Record of at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in a single game in NBA history. The Spurs rookie joins LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only players 19 or younger to accomplish the incredible feat.
James accomplished this feat back on November 11, 2004, when he was a sophomore with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA’s all-time scoring leader, at just 19 years old, scored 38 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks against the Suns in seven seconds or less.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant accomplished the feat on April 16, 2008, when the then-19-year-old scored an eye-popping 42 points against the Golden State Warriors. , 13 rebounds and 2 blocks.
For Victor Wembanyama, this company is an elite one, which also shows how unique his skills are for his size. LeBron James and Durant are “only” 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-10 respectively, and the Spurs rookie is about 8 to 10 inches taller.
It also bodes well for Wembanya’s chance to become the centerpiece of a Spurs title-winning team, just as James and Durant have done for much of their careers.