Wemby Watch: Tracking the French phenom's first 10 games

Not since LeBron James made his Cleveland Cavaliers debut as a teenager 20 years ago has an NBA newcomer’s arrival been met with the same hype as Victor Wembanyama.

With all eyes on the consensus preseason pick for Rookie of the Year, here’s a look at how Wembanyama has fared in his first 10 regular-season outings as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Oct. 25: Mavericks 126-119 Spurs

In the most-watched opening night game in 11 years (2.99 million viewers), Wembanyama and the Spurs were upstaged at home by the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic, who recorded a triple-double, relished the matchup. “He’s probably one of the best prospects to enter the NBA. It was fun,” Doncic said. “I love challenges. So that was a fun challenge.”

Wembanyama finished strong after foul trouble limited his contributions earlier in the second half. The towering Frenchman scored nine of his 15 points in the final seven minutes of the fourth. “I thought his maturity showed even at a young age where he came in with the last, I think, seven minutes and just played,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. [Recap]

Oct. 27: Spurs 126-122 (OT) Rockets

Despite a cold night from the field punctuated by an 0-for-6 mark from deep, Wembanyama played a vital role in San Antonio’s overtime victory. He continued to show a knack for closing strong, tying the game with 20 seconds left in regulation before draining the opening basket in the extra frame.

The 19-year-old also displayed his defensive chops down the stretch, recording back-to-back blocks on Jabari Smith on the same possession with two minutes left and the Houston Rockets clinging to a 107-104 advantage. He also grabbed four boards in OT. “That was big time,” Spurs center Zach Collins said. “He was dominant. Great moves. Got his body in him all night.” [Recap]

Oct. 29: Clippers 123-83 Spurs

Wembanyama learned the rigors of the road the hard way courtesy of a blowout to the Los Angeles Clippers in San Antonio’s first game away from home. The wiry Frenchman also struggled to manage the Clippers’ physicality, with Popovich opting for Collins at center to protect the prized rookie.

Just one of Wembanyama’s four made field goals were from inside the arc, and he contributed five of San Antonio’s season-worst 25 turnovers, including one on the first possession of the contest. “You have to be aggressive with him, and you have to be physical with him,” Robert Covington, who was the primary defender on Wembanyama, said. [Recap]

Oct. 31: Spurs 115-114 Suns

In a battle of the NBA’s most excessively limbed stars, Wembanyama had the last laugh over Kevin Durant. He got a dunk right before the chaotic late possession in which the Spurs took their first and only lead of a thrilling affair. The Phoenix Suns had a 98% win probability in the second half.

Once again, Wembanyama overcame a slow start to finish strong, especially when Popovich opted for small ball in the second half. The rookie had now scored 15 or more points in three of four outings and instantly cemented himself as one of the league’s premier shot-blockers at the other end. [Recap]

Nov. 2: Spurs 132-121 Suns

The Suns must be wondering what they’ve done to deserve this fate. Days after blowing a commanding lead at home to Popovich’s young side, Devin Booker’s return counted for little as they had their own spirited late rally foiled in the desert. And they can blame it all on Wembanyama.

If the Frenchman’s first four outings were the trailer, this was a cinematic masterpiece. With 4:21 left, Wembanyama nailed a 23-footer to tie it at 116. He then scored 10 of San Antonio’s next 12 points as part of a dominant 38-point, 10-rebound showing. That made it 39 points across five fourth quarters on 15-of-19 shooting. Mon dieu! [Recap]

Nov. 5: Raptors 123-116 (OT) Spurs

Smart move by schedule-makers to wedge Wembanyama into an afternoon slot that was aired live in prime time in 132 countries. Viewers were treated to a savvy shot-altering show from the rangy Frenchman who’d now recorded 16 blocks through six contests.

“He’s too tall. He’s way too tall,” a smirking O.G. Anunoby said after Wembanyama totaled a career-best five blocks, one of which was an outstretched effort to deny the Toronto Raptors wing in the overtime defeat. Or maybe Anunoby was referring to this. Wembanyama’s impressed with his offensive skills, but for now, his greatest impact on winning continues to be on the defensive end. DPOY? [Recap]

Nov. 6: Pacers 152-111 Spurs

The defeat to the Indiana Pacers was a sobering experience for Wembanyama. His worst shooting performance to date coincided with the team’s worst defeat of the campaign in a 41-point loss. This helps explain why he logged a scant 21 minutes, his fewest through seven outings.

The contest was also the first back-to-back of Wembanyama’s bourgeoning career and his first “Welcome to the NBA” moment courtesy of a soaring rejection at the rim from Isaiah Jackson in the second quarter. On the bright side, his minus-9 was highest among Spurs players who logged 10 or more minutes. Small victories for the big fella. [Recap]

Nov. 8: Knicks 126-105 Spurs

“I’m not worried about his tallness, bro,” Mitchell Robinson offered ahead of Wembanyama’s Madison Square Garden debut. He backed up his words, limiting the rookie to 0-for-6 from the field as his primary defender.

Wembanyama got the full MSG experience. Amid a second-successive ice-cold shooting night, the Frenchman was showered with “overrated” chants while at the charity stripe. Wembanyama missed his first seven shots and had more airballs (two) than field goals through three quarters. Reminder: He’s eight games in and doesn’t turn 20 until January. [Recap]

Nov. 10: Timberwolves 117-110 Spurs

Wembanyama bounced back from his MSG showing with his second-highest points tally. He was also unsurprisingly a factor at the other end with four rejections. Those blocks only tell part of the story, due in large part to the fact that they’re much easier to quantify than the number of shots he altered.

“Defensively, I think our guys were a little too aware of him,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch admitted after Minnesota’s fifth successive victory. “I think guys were just considering him a little too much. If he blocks a shot, he blocks a shot, but we can’t stop being aggressive.” That’s a pretty telling quote when assessing the impact of a teenager in his ninth NBA game. [Recap]

Nov. 12: Heat 118-113 Spurs

Despite a sixth loss on the spin, Wembanyama had another strong fourth quarter in a back-and-forth affair. He drained a mid-range pull-up followed by an alley-oop and one of two triples on the night to spearhead a fleeting 11-point advantage in the final frame. Still, Wembanyama’s work on the perimeter continues to be a mercurial facet of his game.

Consistency should improve with time, and according to Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo, success comes with repetition. “He don’t even really know his routine right now,” Adebayo said after the game. “So for everybody to be putting those expectations on him, he’s living up to those expectations.” [Recap]

Early assessment

Much like the trajectory of a Spurs team that entered the 2023-24 campaign with the league’s average youngest age (23.5), this is just the beginning of what should be a bright future for Wembanyama.

Here’s a glance at Wembanyama’s individual averages through 10 games:

Throw most of the team-weighted metrics out the window when assessing Wembanyama’s impact because the Spurs have been horrid at one end of the court with the league’s second-worst defensive rating (119.8) and only slightly better at the other end with a 108.4 offensive rating (25th out of 30). San Antonio’s DRTG is also 11.2 points worse per 100 possessions when he sits. Yikes.

Through 10 games, Wembanyama is second in the NBA in blocks (2.4) behind future first-ballot Hall of Famer Anthony Davis and has established himself early as one of the league’s elite rim-protectors. He leads all rookies in points (19.7) and is second in rebounds (8.8), steals (1.1), and minutes (30.2) among a freshman class rife with key contributors.

Wembanyama is also the first rookie in 23 years (Kenyon Martin) to tally at least 24 blocks and 11 steals through his first 10 games, and only the sixth player to do so since 1972. Substantial returns for a player who has yet to fully acclimate to the NBA’s rhythm and pace.