The man has officially earned it. After an outstanding rookie season, San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama officially claimed the Rookie of the Year award. He beat Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren.
Despite the Spurs finishing with an abysmal record of 22-60, the Frenchman is not to blame for the team’s struggles. Far from it. An argument can be made he was the reason why they won that many games.
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama has won the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year award. First player in league history to reach 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers made in a season. pic.twitter.com/wgaxOLZIWB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 6, 2024
Whether it was through his scoring, rebounding, or outstanding defensive play, it’s safe to say he has a bright future.
Impactful From Day One
The minute he stepped on an NBA court, Wembanyama made his presence felt.
In the first preseason game, the rookie had 20 points, five rebounds, two steals, and a block in just 19 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Against the Golden State Warriors in the final tune-up game, he had 19 points, four rebounds, and an outstanding five blocks in the 122-117 win.
The 7’3″ center had a solid start to the regular season, finishing with a double-double in just the second game of the season against the Houston Rockets. Also, he finished with three blocks and three steals. Insane.
San Antonio would endure an unfortunate 17-game losing streak, including a 1-13 record in the month of November. However, Wembanyama would finish with 20.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and a combined 4.2 BLKS+STLS per game during that stretch.
Let’s make things a little easier. Here are some notable stat lines the rookie put up throughout the months.
- 12/13: 30 points/ 13 rebounds/ 6 blocks/ 3 steals in 33 minutes versus the Lakers
- 12/28: 30/6/6 + 7 blocks against the Trail Blazers
- 1/10: 16/12/10 in 21 minutes versus the Pistons
- 1/12: 26/11 in 20 minutes versus the Hornets
- 1/22: 33/7/2 + 2 blocks versus the 76ers
- 1/31: 21/8/3 + 5 blocks and 2 steals versus the Magic
- 2/12: 27/14/5 + 10 blocks versus the Raptors
- 3/3: 31/12/6 + 6 blocks against the Pacers
- 3/17: 33/15/7 + 7 blocks versus the Nets
- 3/29: 40/20/7 versus the Knicks
- 4/2: 23/15/8 + 9 blocks versus the Nuggets
- 4/7: 33/18/6 + 7 blocks versus the 76ers
Yeah, no wonder he won Rookie of the Year.
A Bright Future Ahead
Even with the success he had individually, there are still plenty of things to work on for Wembanyama.
“Physically, the work is never going to be done. I’ve had my plan for months ready for all of my body and we’re going to keep discovering new ways to get better and work on my body. For basketball, there’s a lot I want to work on.”
Victor Wembanyama on what’s to come from him. From ESPN
Getting stronger while also working on playing more minutes in his second year will be key to continued success next season. The Spurs are a young team, but they have their leader in the young star.
Victor Wembanyama will be a superstar in this league. We saw the potential this past season. Whether it was his stellar defense or his offense at all three levels, it’s clear the Spurs have their guy. The fans have someone to root for for years to come. More importantly, this is just the start for Wembanyama.
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Featured Image: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
