San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama sent a message by winning the 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. In becoming the first French player to capture the award and third Spur to earn the honor alongside Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the generational talent lived up to the description again by winning unanimously.
In garnering all 99 first place votes, Wembanyama became the sixth player in league history to win it with that distinction, joining joining Ralph Sampson (1984), Robinson (1990), Blake Griffin (2011), Damian Lillard (2013) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2016).
Wembanyama appeared in 71 games, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals in 29.7 minutes, leading all rookies in scoring, rebounds per game. A Defensive Player of the Year finalist, he led the entire NBA in blocked shots.
It's a rookie year that goes down as one of the best the league has ever witnessed.
Victor Wembanyama's impressive statistics
The 20-year-old center is the first player in NBA history with 1,500+ points, 700+ rebounds, 250+ assists, 250+ blocks and 100+ 3-pointers in a season. He accumulated 1,522 points, 755 rebounds, 274 assists, 254 blocks despite playing less than 30 minutes per game.
In a statistic that exemplifies why he entered the league with so much hype amid perhaps the most unique combination of size and skill, Wemby is the first player in NBA history to average at least 3.5 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers.
He's the second rookie in NBA history to lead the league in blocks, both in rejections per game and with 254 total blocks. Former NBA journeyman Manute Bol did it in 1985-86.
Wembanyama registered 342 combined steals and blocks – or “stocks.” He's the first rookie to eclipse 300+ combined steals and blocks in a season since Shaquille O'Neal in 1992-93.
Youngest Player to…
The 7-foot-4 superstar also registered several “youngest ever” achievements.
The 2023 first overall draft pick was the youngest player in NBA history to record a 20/20 game: 20 points and 20 rebounds in addition to four assists, and four blocks vs. the Chicago Bulls on December 8.
He's also the youngest player in NBA history to register a 5×5 game, with 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and five blocks at the Los Angeles Lakers on February 23.
And he's the youngest player in NBA history to post a 40/20 game, putting up 40 points and 20 rebounds, to go along with seven assists in a thrilling 130-126 overtime victory vs. the New York Knicks on March 29.
Wemby's triple-doubles
The French marvel already has two triple-doubles under his belt. He's the first NBA rookie to have a triple-double involving blocks and another involving assists in the same season.
Wemby recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists six days after leaving his teens in a 130-108 January 10 victory at the Detroit Pistons.
A little more than a month later, in putting up 27 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks, five assists and two steals in a 122-99 February 12 win at the Toronto Raptors, he became the first rookie since David Robinson to record a triple-double with rejections.
Though Wembanyama didn't reach double figures in three stat categories in a March 17th overtime triumph against the Brooklyn Nets, that night in Austin, Texas stands out because he neared a quadruple-double with 33 points, 15 boards and seven blocks and assists apiece.
It feels as if it's only a matter of time before he becomes the fifth player in NBA history to get a quadruple-double. With Victor Wembanyama, everything feels like it's just a matter of time.
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