Why Victor Wembanyama had one of the rarest games in NBA history last night
Week 1 NBA overreactions, including a way-too-early Jayson Tatum MVP prediction
ARE THE NUGGETS COOKED?!? The For The Hoops Crew brings you their Week 1 NBA overreactions, including a way-too-early MVP prediction! Tap in and find out more.
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
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Related
NBA: Mark Cuban says he would have asked for more…
Feb 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Cuban laughs during the second half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat at American Airlines
NBA Scout Reveals Why Celtics Can Easily Beats Knicks in…
The Boston Celtics are one of the teams who are expected to be a contender at the end of the season. They are the defending NBA champions, so they feel like the
Nikola Jokić gives peak Nikola Jokić interview with Scott Van…
Nikola Jokić is still rewriting the record books — and treating it like just another day at the office. In a 149-141 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns
Knicks’ Struggles vs. NBA’s Elite Explained
The New York Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA, but as of late, they have been defined more by their struggles than their triumphs.The Knicks are 0-7
