SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama's debut was highly anticipated with television viewership numbers to prove it.
Wembanyama's first regular season game versus Dallas averaged nearly three million viewers (2,989,000) according to ESPN. It peaked with 3,903,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET. and is the most-watched season-opening ESPN late game since 2012.
And if that isn't enough to prove the "Wemby-effect' is real, then here's how his arrival in San Antonio is impacting the Spurs' Vegas odds.
Heading into the new season, the Spurs' odds of winning the title were extremely low.
Currently, San Antonio has a +25000 shot to win the NBA title according to Caesars Sportsbook.
But there could have been slimmer odds if Wembanyama was not in a Spurs jersey.
“If the Spurs didn’t have Wembanyama, they would be 250- or 500-1 and there wouldn’t be any kind of money,” Westgate SuperBook NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Spurs' slim odds at winning the NBA title is a seven-figure liability at Caesars and the largest liability at Station Casinos.
Also, the 19-year-old rookie is the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award 2023 over fellow rookies such as Chet Holmgren, and Scoot Henderson.
And after his preseason game versus the Warriors where he recorded 19 points and four rebounds, the odds shifted more in his favor.
“He was hovering at even money before the preseason games, but after what he did Friday night, the market started moving,” Westgate SuperBook NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Barring any injury, he’s the definite starting point.”
According to Caesars Sportsbook, Wembanyama currently holds -380 odds to win the Rookie of the Year. Chet Holmgren is at +300 odds with Ausar Thompson at +2000.
Despite the opening-night home loss to Dallas, Wembanyam showed flashes of his immense potential.
He finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks but was saddled with foul trouble throughout the game.
Against the Rockets, he poured in 21 points, and 12 rebounds in the win, and versus the Suns, he recorded a whopping 38 points.
Twitter: @KENS5, @JeffGSpursKENS5