SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama has captured his first Rookie of the Month award.
The NBA announced that the prized 7-foot-3 center won the honor for the Western Conference for January. Wembanyama is the first Spurs player to be named Rookie of the Month since Beno Udrih in December 2004.
January was nothing short of eye-opening for Wembanyama on the stat sheet, and even historic on some nights.
He appeared in 14 games in January – starting each of them – and averaged 24.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.36 blocks in 26.7 minutes while shooting 50.6% from the field. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounding and blocks, while ranking seventh in minutes.
He also became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double when he notched 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists with no turnovers at Detroit on Jan. 10. He is one of just two players in NBA history to tally a triple-double while playing fewer than 22 minutes.
Wembanyama finished the month scoring 20-plus points in 13 of 14 games, including 10 straight to close out January. The Frenchman is thus far living up to the astronomical expectations that awaited him in the NBA, now earning the award after the Thunder's Chet Holmgren was tabbed the Rookie of the Month for two consecutive months.
In addition to taking the league by storm, his jersey is a top-seller, he's been named to the 2024 Rising Stars Team, he will take part in the 2024 All-Star Skills Challenge and he's expected to help the Spurs get back to the top of the NBA.