Victor Wembanyama Has Dominant Performance Against Rookie Of The Year Rival

BYBen Mock601 Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Oklahoma City Thunder v San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Forward Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Chet Holmgren #7 during a game at Frost Bank Center on February 29, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brien Aho/Getty Images)

Wembanyama had another 5x5 night to see off Chet Holgren and the Thunder.

Victor Wembanyama finally got the Spurs back in the win column with a dominant performance over the Thunder. Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 assists, and 5 blocks as San Antonio snapped a five-game losing streak. Furthermore, the win came against Chet Holgren, widely seen as Wembanyama's closest rival for the Rookie of the Year award. Holgrem had a 23/7/5 night in the double-digit loss to San Antonio. Holgren was originally drafted in 2022. However, he missed the entire 2022-23 season due to injury. Per the NBA rules, this makes the 2023-24 season his rookie year.

"I missed this sh-t," Wembanyama said after the game, referring to his frustrations about the Spurs' inability to win this season. Earlier in the week, after dropping a historic 5x5 night, Wembanyama had dismissed comparisons to Michael Jordan. "Did he do it in a win?" Wembanyama had asked, implying he cared more about wins on the board than personal accomplishments. Furthermore, Wembanyama was widely praised for his mentality by various sources around the NBA. The Spurs next host the Pacers on Sunday.

Read More: Giannis Antetokounmpo Calls Victor Wembanyama "Special" After First Matchup

Victor Wembanyama Records First Professional Triple-Double

However, Wembanyama has been making history throughout his rookie year. Back in January, Wembanyama had his first professional triple-double, putting up 16/12/10 against the ailing Detroit Pistons. Furthermore, the 21 minutes and 2 seconds Wembanyama needed to complete the feat made it the second-fastest triple-double of the shot clock era. The 22-point win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Spurs and moved them to 6-30 on the season. Meanwhile, the Pistons fell to 3-35 and extended their then-losing streak to six games.

"Doing it in a win is everything, of course. I didn't know it was the second fastest in NBA history. It matters to me. I'm not the type to talk for nothing. This is the kind of statement we want to make as a team, and this is type of statement I want to make as a player," Wembanyama said after the game.

Read More: Victor Wembanyama Reveals His Favorite Off-Court Hobby

[via]

About The Author
Ben Mock
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
recommended content
San Antonio Spurs v Detroit PistonsSportsVictor Wembanyama Records First Professional Triple-Double851
San Antonio Spurs v Portland Trail BlazersSportsVictor Wembanyama Has Monster Game Against Portland1046
San Antonio Spurs v Memphis GrizzliesSportsGiannis Antetokounmpo Calls Victor Wembanyama "Special" After First Matchup1437
San Antonio Spurs v New York KnicksSportsJersey From Victor Wembanyama's NBA Debut Sells For Over $700K At Auction714