NEW YORK — Victor Wembanyama made quite an impression during his debut game on Christmas, nearly rewriting the record books for the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his stellar performance, the team fell just short against the New York Knicks, suffering a 117-114 defeat.
Wembanyama packed an impressive 42 points and 18 rebounds into his Christmas outing, showcasing a remarkable start to his NBA career. However, the one thing he yearned for—the victory—eluded him. “I’m focused on the game right now,” he remarked after a thoughtful pause, noting how close they came but acknowledging that they sometimes lacked essential qualities in their play.
As he viewed the game stats before him, Wembanyama’s numbers were striking. In addition to his impressive scoring and rebounding, he also made six shots from three-point range, recorded four blocked shots, and contributed four assists. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Tracy McGrady have scored more in their Christmas debut, with Chamberlain netting 45 points back in 1959 and McGrady scoring 43 in 2000. The prior record for a Spurs player at Christmas was held by LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 33 points in 2016.
“We expect such performances from him,” said veteran Spurs player Chris Paul. “For those of us who witness his capabilities daily, his performance doesn’t come as a surprise. Our next focus should be on converting these appearances into wins.” Wembanyama was just shy of breaking the Spurs’ Christmas rebounding record, which is set at 19 by Hall of Famer David Robinson in 1999.
In a nail-biting finish, Wembanyama had a couple of opportunities to tie up the game in the final minute, but neither he nor his teammates could capitalize on missed shots from the Knicks. Josh Hart seized both rebounds, allowing New York to run down the clock. “It feels like you’re powerless at times, but that’s why it’s essential to put in the effort beforehand,” Wembanyama stated.
The Spurs earned their place in this highly anticipated NBA matchup largely due to Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 sensation from France who was the top pick in the 2023 draft and subsequently named Rookie of the Year. Just the week prior, he was honored as the Western Conference player of the week after averaging 32.7 points and 7.3 blocks across his last three games, leading the league in blocks.
His offensive prowess has taken a leap forward, particularly with his ability to launch threes from significant distances. Wembanyama’s six three-point shots during the game brought his total to 23 over the last four outings. Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns noted the evolution of Wembanyama’s game, stating, “He’s taking a lot of long threes now. He looks different from the Wemby I remember as a rookie.”
When asked how to effectively defend a player of his caliber, Towns quipped, “If the physicality is allowed, I think you could manage better. Also, if someone could magically become 7-5 or 7-6, then we’d have a solid chance!”
Wembanyama and Knicks guard Mikal Bridges, who netted a season-high 41 points, established a milestone as the first opposing players to score 40 or more on Christmas since 1961, when legends Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson achieved the feat.
Looking ahead, it seems likely the Spurs will have more opportunities to shine on this festive day as long as Wembanyama is part of the team. “Tonight showed us that we still have some growing to do,” he reflected, though he maintained a positive outlook towards the Spurs’ performance, hinting at a growing commitment to such an effort. “I perceive it this way: It’s demanding to play at that level, but the rewards are equally high.”
