Why Victor Wembanyama had one of the rarest games in NBA history last night

Posted by Admin November 1, 2024 NBA

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 23^rd 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.