The legend of Victor Wembanyama continues to grow with each passing game. On Saturday night, the 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs phenom delivered another signature performance, scoring 30 points and tying his career high with a staggering 10 blocks to power a 114-94 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Wembanyama achieved the feat in a hyper-efficient 30 minutes, sitting out the final 8:30 of the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. It marked San Antonio’s largest margin of victory this season as they improved to 15-13, already matching their win total from all of last year.
Making More History
Saturday’s masterclass was just the latest chapter in Wembanyama’s rapidly-expanding book of basketball wizardry. The 7-foot-4 center, whose blend of size, skill and athleticism has earned him “unicorn” status, continues to test the limits of what we thought was possible:
- 30 points and 10 blocks in 30 or fewer minutes: First player to ever achieve this stat line
- 30-point game, 50-point game and 5×5 game in same season: Joins David Robinson (92-93) and Hakeem Olajuwon (89-90) as only rookies to do so
- Multiple 10-block games before age 21: First player since blocks became an official stat in 1974
- Four 3-pointers and 10 blocks in one game: A feat never accomplished in NBA history
While his scoring and shot-blocking garner most of the headlines, Wembanyama is no one-trick pony. Against Portland, he also collected 7 rebounds and went 4-of-8 from deep, showcasing his tantalizing inside-out potential.
Leading a Spurs Revival
Wembanyama’s individual brilliance is fueling a stunning turnaround in San Antonio. After winning just 15 games in 2023-2024 to land the top pick, the Spurs are right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race thanks to their budding superstar and an impressive young supporting cast.
He’s a special player and a special person. His ability to impact the game in so many ways at his age is really unique. It’s exciting to think about his future and the Spurs’ future with him leading the way.
– Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich
Wembanyama has taken the league by storm and is the overwhelming favorite for Rookie of the Year. More than that, he’s providing hope to a proud franchise that he can be the foundational piece to build future title contenders around, much like past Spurs legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
His encore act will come Tuesday against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. If recent history is any indication, more eye-popping stat lines and “I can’t believe what I just saw” moments are sure to follow. The sky appears to be the limit for this basketball unicorn and the team whose fortunes he has instantly changed.
