SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama, already with the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy on his mantle, was named a unanimous selection to the 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team on Tuesday. The San Antonio Spurs phenom received First Team votes on all 99 ballots from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
There wasn't ever any doubt, but it still comes with some history.
Wembanyama becomes the 12th player in Spurs franchise history to be named All-Rookie, and the first since Kawhi Leonard in 2012 to receive a First Team designation. David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are among the other players to have been named to the All-Rookie First Team.
Through 71 games in his first season, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.58 blocks, to go along with 1.24 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounds, and blocks per game.
Wembanyama scored in double figures in 68 of 71 games, including 41 with 20-plus points, six 30-point games and one 40-point game. He pulled down 10-plus rebounds 44 times and recorded double-digit assists once and 10-plus blocks once on his way to 43 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.
When presented with the West March 2023 NBA Rookie of the Month Award, Wembanyama noted it is more of a team award than for him.
"It's just realizing all the team effort when we look way better than from the beginning of the season," he said.
"These are going to be on my way," he said. "It's another milestone, and these things are important to me."
Joining Wembanyama are the Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (another unanimous selection), Charlotte Hornets forward-guard Brandon Miller, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski.