SAN ANTONIO — From the preseason to the start of the regular season, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has shown flashes of his immense potential.
To start the new season, he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks but was saddled with foul trouble throughout the game in a home loss to Dallas.
However, he sparked a Spurs comeback late in the game showing off his ability to finish at the rim, run the floor, defend, and get the crowd amped with his enthusiasm.
He even impressed Dallas' Luka Doncic.
“He’s going to be amazing. He already is. The size, obviously, like everybody talks about. The way he moves for 7’5-7’6. He moves incredible," Doncic said.
His best game in his young career was against Houston with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
The Clippers had their first look at Wembanyama Sunday night and he left a couple of Los Angeles players impressed.
Here's what Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Robert Covington had to say about facing Wembanyama for the first time.
Westbrook:
“You know, he’s one of a kind. As we all know. He’s going to get better each and every year during the season, as long as keeps focused and keeps improving his game, but he’s going to be fine," Westbrook said. "He wasn’t on me much, but you know it's there."
Leonard:
“He’s going to be good. It’s still early in the season obviously, but once he figures out where he’s going to be getting his shots, and reading defenses, I think he’s going to be good," Leonard said. "I felt like he got more aggressive, like a more aggressive mentality as he started this season off. I think you know, he’ll just keep getting better.”
Covington:
"I picked up that you have to be aggressive with him, you got to be physical, and you got to do the little things," he said.
Through three games of the new season, Wemby is posting 15.7 points per game including 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.7 blocks, 44% field goal shooting, and 31% shooting from the three-point line.
Twitter: @KENS5, @JeffGSpursKENS5