Victor Wembanyama came into the NBA as a prospect unlike any other, and he certainly hasn’t disappointed in his rookie season. After 31 games, Wembanyama has hit more threes than Stephen Curry did and has more blocks than Dikembe Mutombo did in the first 31 games of their careers.
Total number of blocks in first 31 games played:
Victor Wembanyama: 101
Dikembe Mutombo: 84
Tim Duncan: 80
Total number of made 3PT’s in first 31 games played:
Victor Wembanyama: 46
Steph Curry: 41
Kevin Durant: 38
Total number of blocks in first 31 games played:
Victor Wembanyama: 101
Dikembe Mutombo: 84
Tim Duncan: 80
Total number of made 3PT’s in first 31 games played:
Victor Wembanyama: 46
Steph Curry: 41
Kevin Durant: 38 https://t.co/H42S2UNgoP
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 7, 2024
Wembanyama also played the fewest minutes among all the players, at 901. Now obviously, Curry didn’t have the green light to shoot as much from three when he was a rookie, as Wembanyama has now. The same applies to Durant as well, as the three-pointer just wasn’t something teams really emphasized back then.
There is no caveat when it comes to the blocks, though. The fact that he has more than Mutombo and Tim Duncan, two big men who were so dominant on the defensive end, is incredible.
Wembanyama is actually leading the league in blocks at 3.3 per game, to go with averages of 19.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He hit triple figures for blocks after putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 5 blocks against the Cavaliers on Sunday night. By doing so, he also became just the sixth player to reach 100 blocks in their first 35 games.
The 6 players to reach 100 blocks in their first 35 games:
Victor Wembanyama (2023-24)
Shawn Bradley (1993-94)
Alonzo Mourning (1992-93)
Shaquille O’Neal (1992-93)
Manute Bol (1985-86)
Terry Tyler (1978-79)
The 6 players to reach 100 blocks in their first 35 games:
Victor Wembanyama (2023-24)
Shawn Bradley (1993-94)
Alonzo Mourning (1992-93)
Shaquille O'Neal (1992-93)
Manute Bol (1985-86)
Terry Tyler (1978-79) https://t.co/0jxewqjrKj
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 7, 2024
He is the first player to do so in the 21st century, with even the likes of Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis not managing to accomplish it. Even Chet Holmgren is unlikely to make this list, as he has 88 blocks after 34 games.
Really, the only negative to come out of this season for Wembanyama is that he has not been able to lead the San Antonio Spurs to victories. They ended up narrowly losing 117-115 to the Cavaliers, to drop to 5-30 on the season.
Metta Sandiford-Artest Believes Wembanyama Can Score 101 Points In A Game
If he stays relatively healthy, Wembanyama is certainly going to break a fair few records by the time he retires. A former NBA star believes he can break one that has been beyond reach for years, as Metta Sandiford-Artest thinks Wembanyama can score 101 points in a game, and he called him the modern-day Wilt Chamberlain.
“[Victor Wembanyama] is the closest to Wilt [Chamberlain] that we’ll ever see. Wilt averaged 30 points his first year with 20+ rebounds. I think this kid is going to beef up, he’s gonna get better. He’s going to run into a Detroit Pistons from this year, or the Clippers from 20 years ago, and he going to go get 101. At some point in time in the next seven years, he’s going to for sure catch a rhythm against a rookie that can’t guard, and boom, 101-piece averaging 40. I think you’re going to see that from this kid.”
While I am very high on Wembanyama, I can’t see him hitting triple digits and surpassing the record of 100 that Chamberlain set in 1962. There is a reason why Kobe Bryant is the only other player to even get to 80, and it’s because it is just too hard to do.
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