‘Poor moments’ – Victor Wembanyama’s landmark moment puts San Antonio Spurs alien in unique NBA company
A potential blow-out was on the cards and then up stepped Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio Spurs looked like they were heading for back-to-back defeats after the Sacramento Kings outscored the home team 42-28 in the first quarter. Wembanyama’s effortless dunks have become a sight to see The Kings came into the game with five losses in their last six but held a lead as large as 17 points at one stage during the game. However, familiar issues plagued the Kings and their inability to close out games enabled the Spurs to get their comeback rolling inspired by a historic Wembanyama night. The French superstar center took over and put himself alongside elite company with the third triple double of his career with a game-high of 34 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. With the Spurs setting a new franchise record for the most single-game 3-pointers with 23, Wembanyama became just the third player in NBA history to register 30 points with five 3-pointers or more and 3-plus blocks. James Harden and Vince Carter are the only players to have previously hit the mark – underlining the company Wembanyama is now keeping. The no.1 pick in the 2023 draft also became the first Spur to drain five threes in a triple-double performance and along with DeMarcus Cousins is the only center to have such numbers in an NBA game. However interim Spurs coach Mitch Johsnon was quick to downplay Wembanyama’s night and put more attention on the 16 turnovers the Spurs had with the Frenchman responsible for five of them. “I thought he had some very poor moments in the first three quarters in terms of fundamentals and solid basketball, and it’s a testament to him and his ability to lock in,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “I thought in the fourth quarter he was a man. I thought he dominated. Dominating the fundamentals for him — the catches, the passes, the solid stuff — it’s still spectacular. But when he does that, he’s a load.” Wembanyama spoke candidly on his own performance and his historic triple-double telling reporters after the game: “As far as my own performance, to recap, [I’d say] adaptability, I think we adapted pretty well to their scouting report. Wembanyama and interim head coach Mitch Johnson in conversation “The triple-double is just a byproduct of making the right choices.” With that triple-double Wembanyama also joins David Robinson (four), Dejounte Murray (three) and Alvin Robertson as the only players in Spurs history to record 30-point triple doubles. Still just 20, the superstar center will likely keep on joining the very best company the NBA has to offer and shatter some long-standing records. The 7-footer has proven he can offer way more than just playing in the paint with a lot of his game coming around the perimeter, something that has drawn his criticism with Wembanyama admitting that “it’s everyday fight” to find the best way to attack. Nevertheless, the Spurs improve to a 11-9 record and find themselves tenth in the Eastern Conference ahead of their crucial NBA Cup against the Phoenix Spurs.
A potential blow-out was on the cards and then up stepped Victor Wembanyama.
The San Antonio Spurs looked like they were heading for back-to-back defeats after the Sacramento Kings outscored the home team 42-28 in the first quarter.
The Kings came into the game with five losses in their last six but held a lead as large as 17 points at one stage during the game.
However, familiar issues plagued the Kings and their inability to close out games enabled the Spurs to get their comeback rolling inspired by a historic Wembanyama night.
The French superstar center took over and put himself alongside elite company with the third triple double of his career with a game-high of 34 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
With the Spurs setting a new franchise record for the most single-game 3-pointers with 23, Wembanyama became just the third player in NBA history to register 30 points with five 3-pointers or more and 3-plus blocks.
James Harden and Vince Carter are the only players to have previously hit the mark – underlining the company Wembanyama is now keeping.
The no.1 pick in the 2023 draft also became the first Spur to drain five threes in a triple-double performance and along with DeMarcus Cousins is the only center to have such numbers in an NBA game.
However interim Spurs coach Mitch Johsnon was quick to downplay Wembanyama’s night and put more attention on the 16 turnovers the Spurs had with the Frenchman responsible for five of them.
“I thought he had some very poor moments in the first three quarters in terms of fundamentals and solid basketball, and it’s a testament to him and his ability to lock in,” Johnson told reporters after the game.
“I thought in the fourth quarter he was a man. I thought he dominated. Dominating the fundamentals for him — the catches, the passes, the solid stuff — it’s still spectacular. But when he does that, he’s a load.”
Wembanyama spoke candidly on his own performance and his historic triple-double telling reporters after the game: “As far as my own performance, to recap, [I’d say] adaptability, I think we adapted pretty well to their scouting report.
“The triple-double is just a byproduct of making the right choices.”
With that triple-double Wembanyama also joins David Robinson (four), Dejounte Murray (three) and Alvin Robertson as the only players in Spurs history to record 30-point triple doubles.
Still just 20, the superstar center will likely keep on joining the very best company the NBA has to offer and shatter some long-standing records.
The 7-footer has proven he can offer way more than just playing in the paint with a lot of his game coming around the perimeter, something that has drawn his criticism with Wembanyama admitting that “it’s everyday fight” to find the best way to attack.
Nevertheless, the Spurs improve to a 11-9 record and find themselves tenth in the Eastern Conference ahead of their crucial NBA Cup against the Phoenix Spurs.
