In his inaugural season, the 7-foot-4 French center maintained averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game.
San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama arrived in the NBA with a level of anticipation not seen since LeBron James in 2003—and he’s exceeded every expectation.
The 20-year-old center claimed the league’s Rookie of the Year honor on Monday, boasting remarkable averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, 1.8 three-pointers, and 1.2 steals per game—an unprecedented feat in NBA history. He’s the first player to tally at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks, and 100 made three-pointers in a single season.
Wembanyama outshone Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets for the accolade, earning all 99 first-place votes from the media, a unanimous achievement last seen with Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016.
In joining the ranks of David Robinson (1990) and Tim Duncan (1998), Wembanyama secures his place in Spurs lore.
Reflecting on his accomplishment, he stated on TNT, “My goal is always to elevate my team’s performance while continuously improving individually. Winning this award is a significant milestone for me, and I’m honored to have achieved it.”
The 7-foot-4 French phenom is also in contention for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, alongside Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, with the winner set to be announced Tuesday night.
Despite Wembanyama’s stellar play, the Spurs’ lackluster 22-60 record may overshadow his achievements. Nonetheless, his unprecedented skill set—combining dribbling, shooting, passing, and defense at his towering stature—bodes well for the franchise’s future.
With the NBA’s youngest roster this season, averaging just 23.52 years old, and potential offseason acquisitions, San Antonio could quickly transform from rebuilding to contending.
Wembanyama remains hungry for improvement, sharing, “There’s still much to refine—physically and in my game. I’ll continue pushing myself to new heights, focusing on balance, strength, and every facet of basketball.
