Why Victor Wembanyama had one of the rarest games in NBA history last night
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Victor Wembanyama’s ability to execute offensively and defensively at a high level is not a secret.
Just 76 games into his NBA career, the 7-foot-2, 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs forward-center is reaching unique statistical achievements.
Wembanyama posted a rare 5×5 in the box score in San Antonio’s 106-88 victory against Utah Thursday, accounting for 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals and five blocks.
It is just the 23rd time a player has posted at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in a game since blocks became an official statistic in 1973-74, according to basketball-reference.com.
It is the second time Wembanyama, the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year, has generated a 5×5, making him the third player to have accomplished the feat multiple times, alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko. Last season, Wembanyama became the youngest player to hit a 5×5 at 20 years old.
“It tells me I need to get my standards up when I don’t get 5x5s because I am able to help my team in all those areas,” Wembanyama told reporters. “It should be a consistent thing. As I have said before, it is something we must have (and) something I must have more often to help my team.”
Prior to Wembanyama in his rookie year, the last player to record a 5×5 was Jusuf Nurkic on Jan. 1, 2019.
Through five games this season, Wembanyama is averaging 18.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.0 steals.
What is a 5×5 game in basketball?
A 5×5 is when a player records at least five points, five rebounds, five assists, five blocks and five steals in a game.
NBA 5×5 games in history
Fifteen players have generated a 5×5 game:
- Hakeem Olajuwon (six times)
- Andrei Kirilenko (three times)
- Victor Wembanyama (twice)
- George Johnson
- George Gervin
- Julius Erving
- David Robinson
- Derrick Coleman
- Vlade Divac
- Jamaal Tinsley
- Marcus Camby
- Nicolas Batum
- Draymond Green
- Anthony Davis
- Jusuf Nurkic
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