OKLAHOMA CITY — Victor Wembanyama lived up to the extraterrestrial hype in his preseason debut with a variety of plays that showed why he's a game-changing player for the San Antonio Spurs.
Wemby played against another full NBA team for the first time, facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder and one of his main competitors for Rookie of the Year in Chet Holmgren. San Antonio's 7'3" superstar was up to the challenge.
A player that size is going to be a menace on the glass, and that's how Wembanyama got his first bucket. He muscled after a free throw miss and popped it in. The next play he leaked out down the court, caught in the paint, pump faked and sent the trailing defender flying before an easy dunk.
Holmgren and Wembanyama weren't matched up to start, but Wemby got his chance. He crossed over his rookie rival, then put his head down and powered directly through Chet's mouthpiece for an and-1 and flexed.
It got the people going, but "big guy does big guy things" isn't what makes Wemby the best NBA prospect since LeBron. Its the skill that he displays at that size, and the way he uses his extendo arms to do things other people simply can't. That's especially true on defense.
Wemby started this play outside the arc, then was able to swipe down on a driver at the elbow to force a steal and run the floor for an emphatic jam.
On this play, a smaller guy put the rookie in a blender with a vicious crossover. Wemby wound up turned around and completely out of position... and it didn't matter. He had the agility to flip his hips and the length to stuff the attempt.
Wembanyama knocked down a couple of threes, his shooting a key differentiator for him. But it's not just simple catch-and-shoot stuff, he drilled one after taking a handoff and stepping to the side like a shooting guard.
He also showed his ability to handle and finish. On this play he caught at the arc, pumped, drove, spun, leapt, and went up and under around Holmgren with his left.
Head Coach Gregg Popovich mainly used the second half to evaluate other guys.
Wembanyama finished with 20 points in just 19 minutes, and added 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. He made a bunch of unselfish and creative passes, but had no assists and four turnovers as he continues developing chemistry with his new teammates.
"I'm very hopeful, because we had some sequences especially in the first half defensively we were like one together on the court," Wembanyama said after the game. "My best games are when I put energy on the court. I'm a rookie. What I gotta do is play defense, play hard, and just give 100%. I gotta be tired when I get subbed out. I was just trying to put energy out at all times, but I can still do better."
When asked if he was nervous he said no, but he was excited.
"He just went out and played, no big game plan for him or anything like that, he just played basketball which he likes to do and is good at," Pop said. "We're still trying to figure out whether he should be on the perimeter or in the post, in what situations, and where we can take the most advantage of his abilities. I'm not sure he's even sure. There'll be a little bit of both for sure, just don't know what the percentages will be, could be based on who's guarding him, what's going on on the court. He's a smart guy, he'll figure it out even if I don't."
The Spurs built a 19-point lead in the first half, fell behind by double digits in the second half, and the third unit went on an 8-0 run in the last few minutes to make it a thrilling finish, but they lost 122-121.
Zach Collins put up 15-5-5, and Malaki Branham added 15 points as well.
The Spurs will make their home preseason debut on Friday night against the Miami Heat.