Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Makes NBA History Against Lakers

Victor Wembanyama found himself in the spotlight, not just for his performance on the court but also for a historic NBA achievement he accomplished during the San Antonio Spurs matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wembanyama was informed about joining Jamaal Tinsley (2001) as the only NBA rookie to achieve a 5×5 game, marking at least 5 points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in a single game. Moreover, after Michael Jordan, he became only the second player to record 5 blocks and 5 steals in back-to-back games. However, Jordan achieved his wins, while Wembanyama’s came in losses.

“I wonder if he did it in wins?” Wembanyama asked.

Despite the Spurs’ 113-108 defeat to the Lakers, Wembanyama’s line of 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks placed him among the rare company as the 15th player in NBA history to record a 5×5, and the first since Jusuf Nurkic in 2019. Furthermore, he became the first player to average a 5×5 over two games since the stat was officially recorded in the 1973-74 season.

“To me, it’s secondary,” Wembanyama said. “Hopefully in the future, and think this is a good performance, but as of today, I can’t be satisfied with a loss.”

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At just 20 years old and playing 31 minutes, Wembanyama not only became the youngest to achieve a 5×5 but also joined Hakeem Olajuwon in the exclusive club of players with a stat line of 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and five steals in a game. Despite these milestones, Wembanyama stressed the importance of team victories over individual accolades.

“Of course it was challenging [going against] one of the best duos in the league,” Wembanyama said. “But still, I think it’s a lot of teams we beat if we play this way. But I think it came down to maturity at the end because each and every one of us was making a mistake each of the times. Little mistakes, missing a layup, turning the ball over. We went down, we went back to down four, down seven multiple times, and that’s when we did mistakes. So yeah, it’s maturity.”

The Lakers’ star duo, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, overpowered the young Spurs team. James lauded Wembanyama’s limitless potential and unique physical attributes, comparing his impact on the game to other great defensive presences in NBA history.

“He doesn’t have a ceiling,” James said. “He can do whatever he wants to do with his career. It seems like he enjoys the game. It seems like he puts in the work. Just from the outside looking in, I’m not with him on a day-to-day basis, but I said a long time ago how special he was, and it’s literally that simple.

“As far as your question as far as havoc [defensively], there are guys in our league that you have to account for any time you get around the rim or around the perimeter in our league history, and he sits right at the top of it, [if not] around the top, with all the greats.”

James compared the impact Wembanyama has provided as a rookie to some of the top talents to step in and make an immediate impact as rookies, including Zion Williamson, Luka Doncic, and Kyrie Irving.

“He’s one of them to have like a stellar rookie season,” James said. “Guys that have come in and [dominated]. But it’s, can you sustain it? We’ve had guys that have come in and just been really damn [good]. I think the one thing that Wemby has above all the guys that I kind of named is you see his length. You see how tall he is and his length. This guy next to me [Davis] possesses a lot of length, and he’s like even more than AD. So that what makes it a little bit different.”

Despite the Spurs’ struggle this season, with an 11-46 record and their 10th loss in 11 games, the team and its players, including guard Devin Vassell, recognize Wembanyama’s exceptional talent and the bright future it heralds for the franchise. They remain committed to excellence, driven by Wembanyama’s aspirations for greatness and the collective ambition to turn their fortunes around.