Victor Wembanyama turned a disastrous opening night into a historic stretch, averaging 31.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocks on 52% shooting over his last seven games after going 1-for-13 in the season opener.
The San Antonio Spurs have won six straight since starting 0-2, capped by a 112-111 thriller over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Wembanyama scored the Spurs' final seven points and 11 of their last 13, hitting the game-winning free throw to finish with 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks.
He became the first player since Bob McAdoo in 1974 to record at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in a game, and the only player besides Wilt Chamberlain to reach 50 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks. His first-half line of 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks has not been matched in the last 30 years.
Wembanyama also joined Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing as the only players with 200-plus points and 30-plus blocks through the first eight games of a season in two consecutive years, and he is the only player in history with multiple 40-point, five-block games before age 23.
Shot Diet Shift
The turnaround stems from a deliberate move toward the basket. Through eight games, Wembanyama is attempting 10.1 shots in the restricted area (up from 6.0), 12.0 in the paint (up from 8.9) and 5.1 dunks per game (up from 2.7). He now takes 42% of his shots within three feet, compared to 33% last season, putting him on pace for more than 400 dunks — which would shatter Rudy Gobert's single-season record of 302.
San Antonio is initiating pick-and-rolls lower on the floor, allowing Wembanyama to catch lobs near the free-throw line and finish with his extraordinary length. He made just one three-pointer against the Mavericks but converted 15 of 20 shots inside the arc and 19 free throws, a throwback to dominant interior play.
After the opening-night struggle, Wembanyama said, "I got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself. For me, it's as simple as that. I'm good when I have fun." Following the historic performance he added, "It should be more like this, more often."
