In a game that ended today, the Spurs beat the Thunder 132-118.
This season, it seems to have become the norm for this young Spurs team, win or lose, and their super-rookie Wembanyama has always been able to play top numbers.
In this match, Wembanyama continued to play at full strength under Popovich's strict time management.
In the whole game, Wembanyama played 32 minutes, scoring 28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks on 9-of-17 shooting! According to statistics, this is the third time that Wembanyama has at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in February, which is the most in NBA history since Olajuwon in February 1993. Wembanyama's attack went without saying, and as the schedule progressed, he gradually found his own rhythm. In contrast, Wembanyama's dominance on the defensive end is even more terrifying, having just played a statistic comparable to O'Neal's, and after the All-Star break, Wembanyama made another effort.
According to statistics, after the All-Star, Wembanyama has 19 blocks, more than the Knicks 18; 17 times for the Bucks, Lakers and Hornets, 15 for the Hawks and Mavericks, 14 for the Jazz, 12 for the Kings, 11 for the Wizards, 10 times for the Pacers, Nets and Trail Blazers, 7 times for the Grizzlies, 6 times for the Clippers and 5 times for the Bulls. So far this season, Wembanyama has averaged 3 blocks per game3 times, he is the only player in the league who averages more than 3 blocks per game, and he is the first in the league by beating Lopez, Holmgren, Davis and other top defenders. If nothing else, this year's cap king is pinched in hand.
Ever since Wembanyama appeared on the radar of NBA scouts, he has been known for his unmatched dynamic and offensive talent. But the young Frenchman, since entering the NBA, has also shown top-notch defensive talent. Although when he first entered the NBA, Wembanyama did not adapt to the rhythm of the NBA game, played some bad games, and was questioned a lot. The Frenchman's first game in the NBA was in New York, where he finished with just 14 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block. It wasn't until 3:18 left in the third quarter that Wembanyama scored his first athletic goal.
In the first half, Wembanyama threw two three-touches, and the New York fans unceremoniously sent ridicule. Meanwhile, at Madison Garden, the Knicks also focused on taking care of Wembanyama, who lost all six of his shots under the Mitchell Robinson marker. However, after his debut Waterloo, Wembanyama began the battle of proof, scoring 38 points in the fifth game. Obviously, because such a monster entered the league, other teams began to deliberately target Wembanyama. Sending out tall players to play against the feet, forcing Wembanyama to go outside the box. And the Spurs, who have a weak book, no one has stepped forward to share the pressure for Wembanyama.
So, after that, Wembanyama and Spurs suffered an 18-game losing streak. However, Wembanyama once again proved why he was the champion, and once again made the league executives and ** praise him. Wembanyama's ability to adjust, as well as his deterrence on the defensive end, are truly rare.
In the future, Wembanyama's confrontation strength and technical ability will definitely continue to improve, and the Spurs will continue to optimize the lineup. The future Spurs are indeed worth looking forward to.