Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points in a game, his record, to help the San Antonio Spurs dominate the New York Knicks on Friday March 29 in the NBA (130-126 after overtime). The 20-year-old French player even became the first rookie to have more than 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 – he finished the game with 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 passes and 1 block.
Despite the gloomy 2023-2024 financial year for the San Antonio Spurs, last in the Western Conference with their 18th victory of the season only on Friday, Victor Wembanyama achieved individual feats, in the midst of the collective slump. His last high was on November 2, 2023, when he scored 38 points to beat Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns.
Friday, the 2.24m Frenchman stole the show from Knicks leader Jalen Brunson, who scored 61 points, his record, one unit shy of his franchise record held by Carmelo Anthony (62 points in 2014).
“I’m on the right track.”
If the Spurs have nothing left to play for at the end of the season, Wembanyama took advantage of this match with overtime to delight his audience and score the baskets, notably a long-distance shot to give the Texans a four-point lead at 1 min 12s from the end of overtime.
“I’ve seen so many great things [in the NBA], I want to be part of it,” said Victor Wembanyama after the meeting. “I always wanted it, but it’s even more so now that I see I can already fight with these players. I’m not close [to the top] but I’m on the right track. I know it, I will get there soon. »
“I have a certain pride in doing new things, trying to fill out my CV too. It’s always something that I try to do, to be different, unique, to mark people too,” he added, in French.
“He’s special,” admitted his coach Gregg Popovich, at the head of a rebuilding team that hopes to quickly return to center stage in the wake of his phenomenon.
Before dreaming of a better ranking next season, “Wemby” should return to the French team this summer to shine at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11).