Victor Wembanyama added his name to a few of the all-time greats in the NBA after another prodigious stat-line in the San Antonio Spurs' 116-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
The 20-year-old tallied 34 points to go along with 14 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks as the Spurs easily earned their fifth win of the 2024 season.
That Monday game marked Wembanyama's 82nd league game since being tabbed as the No. 1 pick in last year's draft-meaning he has now reached the equivalent of a full season played.
And with his big performance against the Kings, he became part of the very exclusive group, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Blake Griffin, and Sidney Wicks, who are the only players to have scored at least 1,700 points, 800 rebounds, and 300 assists in their initial 82 games.
He was asked what he has learned from playing a full season, and Wembanyama mentioned the mental preparation for a game that has a very busy calendar.
Approaching the game mentally is more important than even approaching it physically, he told reporters. "Of course, we are going to take care of our bodies, but there are people whose jobs it is to take care of our bodies, make sure we're healthy. Of course, we are going to think about that but to be great you just have to approach the game with that killer mentality.
Monday's effort followed on the heels of Wembanyama's stat-sheet-filling performance in a victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, as he tallied 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks - his third career game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and five 3-pointers, the most in NBA history.
One thing that has come around for Wembanyama as the season has progressed is his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter.
He started the season at 25% from three, but then proceeded to go 14-for-27 from long range over his past seven games, including matching a career-best six-for-12 against the Kings.
"I'm just taking better threes," Wembanyama said. "Yeah, of course it's feeling better. I'm 20, I'm hoping for some years it's going to keep feeling better and better. There is no reason for it to feel worse."
Monday's game included some of the great Wembanyama defense, including a 360 block of Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis at the rim.
This version is far from being the finished article, though, according to teammate Chris Paul.
I wish you guys could see the work that goes in day in and day out," the veteran point guard said to reporters. "You know how talented he is, but his will to want to get better, his will to want to work on things-the more games we play, I think we all will get more and more familiar with each other.".
The Spurs are 5-6 after a win and welcome the Washington Wizards to Frost Bank Center on Wednesday.
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