The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night to secure their 14th win in 15 games as the league winds down to its final day.
Victor Wembanyama was on show once again, scoring 40 points and having 13 rebounds as the Spurs ran out 139-120 winners on the night.
Wembanyama suited up for his 65th game of the season and went 14-for-23 from the field, 10-for-11 from the free-throw line while adding five assists, two blocks and one steal.
The victory ensured that the Spurs would finish the regular season with the second-best record in the league. This has been a major improvement to a team that lost 60 games in Wembanyama’s rookie year.
An Emotional Victor Wembanyama Let Out His Feelings
After the game against Dallas, the 22-year-old French star grew emotional when reflecting on his journey and the expectations and challenges he has overcome to reach this point in his young career.
“It means a lot, more than people know, coming back from a terrible place, a little bit more than a year ago,” Wemba said. “And if I’m here today, it’s because of all the people that have allowed me to work through this and get better and all the work we’ve put in all year long. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve done this season if I hadn’t worked so hard in December.”
Injuries haven’t been kind to Wembanyama even during this breakout year. It is ironic that it is seen as a breakout year because the Frenchman is already an NBA All-Star and made the All-Defensive First Team in his rookie year. However, the mental and physical grind hasn’t been easy with all the immense hype he carried.
San Antonio has transformed into a contender overnight with a strong core that comprises players like De’Aaron Fox and second-year guard Stephon Castle. But their focal point has been Wembanyama as the former No. 1 overall pick has emerged as one of the best two-way superstars in just his third year in the league.
Aiming Higher From Here
Wembayama will be playing in the postseason for the first time in his career, and for San Antonio, it will be its first rodeo since 2019. A big part of that is having the 22-year-old center on the floor for most parts of the season. He played 46 games last year and has missed some time this season.
One of the biggest issues players of his build face is constant injuries. However, the Spurs put in extra effort for him to stay on the court.
“Tremendous amount of work,” Wembanyama said of his health. “Lots and lots of talks with the medical staff. Lots of figuring out the best plan. More, I would say, than any year in my career, mental work to be able to play through pain or discomfort, but we made it.”
By reaching the 65-game mark on Friday, Wembanyama is now eligible for major awards and honors, including the MVP race where he has been a front-runner alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
For now, the focus is to finish up the regular season at home against the Denver Nuggets, who are also positioned for a deep postseason.
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