While currently transforming the centre position in the NBA, Nikola Jokic, a superstar for the Denver Nuggets, made a prediction in November that another individual of significant size would completely revolutionise the sport of basketball. Indeed, the individual in question was none other than Victor Wembanyama, a rookie player for the San Antonio Spurs.
Given the upcoming contest between the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, in which Jokic’s team emerged victorious with a score of 117-106, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the initial impression of Wembanyama by the two-time MVP. Unsurprisingly, Jokic’s original view, initially shared by Paul Garcia of Project Spurs, was highly accurate.
Jokic was accurate. Wembanyama, who is currently 20 years old, is already revolutionising the game. It appears that on a weekly basis, he consistently introduces novel elements, encompassing both unconventional and extraordinary stats, as well as extraordinary theatrical performances.
During the initial phases of his rookie season, Jokic extended his well wishes to the aspiring star of the Spurs. However, on Friday night, the current NBA Finals MVP demonstrated his continued dominance inside the league.
Jokic demonstrated a commendable performance in the triumph, accumulating 31 points, seven rebounds, and six assists during a span of three quarters. In contrast, Wembanyama encountered difficulties in his performance on the field, achieving a mere 4-of-12. However, he managed to accumulate a total of 17 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals.
Despite a subpar performance on Friday, Wembanyama accomplished another remarkable accomplishment in the NBA. Coincidentally, he achieved the feat of scoring 200 blocks in his first season as a rookie, surpassing the record set by Spurs star Tim Duncan.
Duncan’s last accomplishment occurred 26 years ago in the 1997-98 season, when he successfully blocked 206 shots in his first season.
At the 7:21 mark of the second quarter, Wembanyama successfully made his 200th shot of the season by swatting away a layup attempt made by Nuggets player Christian Braun.
Wembanyama’s recent accomplishment is complemented by his status as the second player and first rookie in NBA history to accumulate 200 blocks and more than 100 three-pointers in a single season. Raef LaFrentz, an NBA journeyman, stands as the sole individual to have achieved these statistics, having accumulated 213 blocks and 104 triples over the 2001-02 season.
Wembanyama’s performance has exhibited a notable shift subsequent to the All-Star break. The Rookie of the Year favourite has exhibited an average performance of 21.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 4.6 blocks, and 2.0 steals in his most recent nine appearances leading up to Friday’s defeat.
Building upon Jokic’s prior statement, it may be argued that Wembanyama possesses the requisite mindset to achieve victory. Despite the numerous NBA records and accomplishments he attained during his inaugural season, the French player continuously prioritises winning games. Regrettably, the Spurs currently possess one of the most unfavourable records in the NBA this season. However, it is reasonable to assert that the team’s reconstruction appears to hold promising prospects, with Wembanyama at the forefront.