Victor Wembanyama, the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs, turned in an unprecedented stat line to lead his team to a shocking 132-118 upset victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
Phenom Stuffs Stat Sheet in Statement Win
The 19-year-old French phenom stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals, while knocking down 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range. He became the first player in NBA history to hit thresholds of 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 5+ blocks and 5+ 3-pointers in the same game.
Wembanyama also capped off a dominant February by averaging 2 steals, 2 3-pointers made and 3 blocks per game for the month, another first in league history. He has made clear that he wants his unprecedented numbers to come in the form of wins for the 12-48 Spurs, rather than mere individual stats.
“It’s a lot of mental,” Wembanyama said after the game. “You know Kobe [Bryant] said to win a game, it mostly takes shots, big shots, because they don’t call like any fouls. It’s not as much the physical battle.”
Rivalry Renewed with Fellow “Unicorn” Holmgren
The game also featured a clash between Wembanyama and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, the 2022 No. 2 overall pick who missed last season due to injury. Both big men represent a new breed of versatile “unicorn” centers with both interior and perimeter skills.
Holmgren held his own with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, but Wembanyama had the last laugh. He blocked a key Holmgren jump shot inside the last two minutes to help seal the unlikely win for the Spurs.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 Not Enough for Thunder
The Thunder, owners of the West’s second-best record at 41-17, mounted a late comeback attempt behind a game-high 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But Wembanyama knocked down clutch late 3-pointers to pad the Spurs’ lead, while Devin Vassell matched his 28 points.
It was a sobering loss for the Thunder, who had won 12 of their last 14 games. As Holmgren noted, it was “another reminder that this is the NBA. Any team can beat another on any given night regardless of record.”
Both teams return to action Sunday, with the Spurs hosting the Pacers and the Thunder visiting the Suns.
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