Victor Wembanyama’s historic NBA season continues with stop in Toronto

Article content

Normally a game between two teams that have combined for 29 wins and 75 losses so far this season would be anything but must see, but Monday’s tilt is an exception.

Article content

That’s because the San Antonio Spurs visit Toronto for the only time this season, meaning basketball fans in Canada get just this one chance to see phenom Victor Wembanyama up close in his record-breaking rookie season. Wembanyama, who only turned 20 last month, is averaging 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per game in 47 appearances, along with 3.1 assists, 81% shooting from the free-throw line and an NBA-best three blocks a night.

Article content

The most hyped prospect in sports since LeBron James has delivered and then some so far.

Far from just a spectacle at close to 7-foot-4, the Frenchman has embraced the spotlight while still doing his best to stay humble. He’s dealt with losing most nights on a team that experimented at point guard instead of starting a true floor general until more recently and he’s managed to improve as his first season has rolled on. Wembanyama was ridiculous in January, wresting control of the rookie of the year race back from impressive Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren by averaging 24 points a game on 51% shooting.

Though he’s dipped a bit in five February games, Wembanyama has managed to up his three-point shooting percentage from the 30% he’d averaged from October to January to 45.5%. Even if he becomes a 38% outside shooter consistently, Wembanyama would become amongst the most dangerous offensive players in the entire league.

Article content

Article content

He’s instantly become one of the premier defenders. He also has a chance to join only 11 other rookies to average 20 and 10 since Larry Bird did it in 1979-80 (he’d be the third Spurs big man to do it. The franchise has had incredible luck in landing the top pick when David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Wembanyama were available). The man known as Wemby would also easily become the youngest rookie to post those averages.

There’s no guarantee he joins that company, though, since the length of the NBA season appears to be catching up to Wembanyama a bit as San Antonio has lost seven straight.

Wembanyama was extremely quiet in the first half of Saturday’s loss in Brooklyn, failing to grab a single rebound, assist, block or steal early on. He finished with only four rebounds two days after stunningly hauling in just one against the Orlando Magic. Five total rebounds in 52 minutes is a bizarre total for the tallest player in the NBA (along with Boban Marjanovic), but Wembanyama deserves a pass since he’s exceeded all expectations so far and it should be noted that he had 13, 14 and 14 rebounds in the three games before these last two.

Article content

“I’m seeing signs of it in everybody, but that’s the same with basically every team,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters in Brooklyn. “It’s the dog days and it’s tough. I wanted to see how we would react on the road here on this road trip. I think this is the fourth weekend of three (games) in four nights, and that’s tough, along with the rodeo road trip … They have got to try to fight through it. We’re having a little bit of a tough time getting through that.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Wembanyama told Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News: “All of our bodies are impacted, so yeah, the challenge is going through that, making those extra efforts, even though we don’t feel (great).

“We’re going to jump a little bit less high and we’re going to run a little bit less fast than the beginning of season, of course.”

Article content

Even 80% of Wembanyama is better than most of his opponents, though. It isn’t normal for a rookie to be as impactful as he has been. He’s the youngest player to notch a 20-point, 20-rebound game, the second youngest to record a triple-double and his versatility shows in Wembanyama recording more blocks through his first 31 games than defensive legends like Dikembe Mutombo and Duncan and more three-pointers made than all-time gunners like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Wembanyama is a one-man show. One the Raptors will have to find answers for on Monday night. Hopefully the game will be as memorable as the one in San Antonio in November. Wembanyama scored 20 in that one, but Toronto rallied from 22 points down to force and then win in overtime.

X: @WolstatSun

Article content