And now he competes with Nikola Jokic! Victor Wembanyama did as well, or even better, than his one-night opponent, twice named best player of the season (MVP) in 2021 and 2022. The Serbian pivot scored 42 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and won the match , with his Denver Nuggets team (110-105), but Victor Wembanyama often countered Jokic and especially came close to a… quadruple-double: 23 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists and 9 blocks. This feat, achieved by only four players in NBA history, consists of reaching the 10 mark in four statistical categories. Everything suggests that the next basketball player to reach it will be the Frenchman from the San Antonio Spurs.
“It was nice to play against Nikola Jokic, but it’s very demanding, you have to react very quickly and there is no room for error,” Wemby noted afterwards. “Victor gained a lot of respect tonight because Nikola is the best,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. It was a real test of how good he wants to be. To stand up to Nikola like that says it all. He is constantly progressing. »
Less than six months after his debut in the prestigious American league, he continues to amaze the NBA. Last night’s game allowed him to reach the mark of 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 blocks this season. Only one other rookie has posted this same stat line in his first season: Tim Duncan, another San Antonio player, in 1998.
Since the injury of his two teammates Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama has carried his team’s game on his shoulders and we can say that it is successful for him. He finishes a series of three games where he dominated his opponents, after the Knicks on Friday and Golden State on Sunday. He was logically rewarded with the title of rookie of the month for March. It is now used much more in the construction but also the finishing of attacks: 4 out of 10 end with an attempt from the Frenchman (compared to 3 previously).
Not always very happy shot choices
In Denver, the reigning champion, he started with two failures but recovered during the following sequence which brought the whole room to its feet: he managed to come back from nowhere to counter Nikola Jokic who thought he had already scored, and went to score in counter attack. He jokes during a stoppage in play with the Serbian and we say to ourselves that the NBA is in good hands… He participates in the first 10 minutes of the match, a first this season, and he returns exhausted to the sidelines. We won’t see him again until… the middle of the second quarter. “It was difficult, I’m so tired,” he confided, his features drawn, after the match. Altitude can be a reason (editor’s note: Denver is located at 1,600 m), but it is not the only one, there are a multitude of factors. »
When he comes back into play, the second act has already started 5 minutes ago, and the Nuggets instantly begin to fumble the ball in front of him. He then viciously counters Michael Porter Jr, and will continue his harvest of blocks in the second half, first on Reggie Jackson then again on Nikola Jokic. “He countered me 6 or 7 times but we won the match, so that’s fine with me! », jokes the double MVP afterwards.
The Spurs are almost always in the fight with the Nuggets. “It was one of the most competitive games I’ve been a part of in many years,” said Gregg Popovich, whose team hasn’t been in playoff contention for several seasons. These efforts made over 48 minutes in difficult circumstances, it’s been years since I’ve seen a match like that. »
During the fourth quarter, Wembanyama fell heavily on his hip, which he held regularly until the end of the match. In the last two minutes, his shot choices were not always wise, while San Antonio was neck and neck and seemed capable of creating the feat. In the last minute, he asserted himself with authority against Reggie Jackson, then frightened Christian Braun, who preferred to pass rather than attempt a shot! The Spurs fail on the heels of the Nuggets but Victor Wembanyama has clearly marked his territory.