Against the Lakers on Friday, Victor Wembanyama became just the second player in NBA history to record five steals and five blocks in consecutive games. The only other player to achieve such a feat is Michael Jordan, and it’s just the latest evidence that Victor is on track to become an absolute legend on the court. But as he told the media this weekend, Wemby still isn’t satisfied with his performance because it came in a loss.
“I wonder if he did it in wins, not losses. To me, it’s secondary,” Wembanyama said via Ben Golliver. “Hopefully, in the future, we can look back and think this is a good performance. As of today, I can’t be satisfied with a loss.”
Jordan’s 5-steal, 5-block games came in February of 1987. On the 22nd of that month, Jordan dropped 43 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two nights later, he finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and five blocks in a win over the Hawks.
While the Spurs lost both of their past two games, it’s encouraging that Wembanyama has the spirit of a true competitor, and that’s growing increasingly rare to see in the modern NBA. Instead of celebrating his stats or relishing in matching the GOAT himself, Wemby is only concerned with the wins and losses and it speaks loudly about his dedication to winning at this stage of his career.
Sadly, not even Victor has been enough to make the Spurs relevant in the West. With averages of 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, Wemby has been doing everything he can to give his team a chance — and it’s been in vain so far with the Spurs ranking dead last in the standings.
The San Antonio Spurs Have A Long Road To Contention
The Spurs struck gold when they landed the first pick in the 2023 draft. Last summer, there was no question that Victor was the best prospect in the world and some even called him the greatest prospect in basketball history. But now that San Antonio has found their franchise superstar, the hard work has really just begun.
At 11-46 this season, the Spurs are one of the worst teams in NBA history right now, and besides Wembanyama, there isn’t a player on the roster who is essential to keep for the future. So, this offseason, expect the Spurs to increase their intensity in searching for talent so they can give their guy a real chance at winning.
The problem is, what star is available that they can realistically get right now or anytime soon? Besides potential names like Trae Young or Dejoune Murray, there isn’t an obvious answer for the Spurs and it could take some time to construct a competitive roster around Wembanyama.
But the signs are looking good for Victor’s future. Amid a dominant rookie season, Victor is doing and saying all the right things and he’s showing the world how serious he is about being the best. But once the Spurs are able to back up his talk with more wins on the court, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA postseason.
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