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SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama, the center for the San Antonio Spurs, had a remarkable game on Wednesday night, scoring a career-high of 50 points, a feat that left both his teammates and competitors impressed.
Despite his historic achievement, Wembanyama stayed humble, pondering what more he could achieve in the future. His performance contributed significantly to San Antonio’s 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards.
“My primary thought is that I aspire for our future performances and games to surpass this one,” Wembanyama, the number one pick in the 2023 NBA draft, stated. “I hope to reach a point where this game is just another one among many.”
This modest mindset is what has helped Wembanyama evolve into one of the youngest stars in the league.
“Extremely impressive,” praised Spurs point guard Chris Paul.
At just 20 years and 314 days old, Wembanyama has become the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in a game. He now ranks behind notable players such as Brandon Jennings, LeBron James, and Devin Booker.
San Antonio wing Julian Champagnie commented on Wembanyama’s performance, saying, “That’s not going to be his average every night, but when he plays with that mentality, it’s challenging for the other team. He deserves all the recognition; he’s diligently working on his game. We’re very proud of him, and we expect to see more of this.”
Wembanyama impressively shot 8 for 16 from beyond the arc, setting a new career high after hitting six 3-pointers in his last two games.
He started the match strong against the Wizards, making long-range 3-pointers from distances of 25 and 28 feet, helping the Spurs jump to an early 13-3 lead.
Washington center Jonas Valanciunas reflected on the challenge of defending Wembanyama, saying, “I don’t think we’ve played against anyone who can do everything at such a high level. We tried to defend against those 3-point shots, but he still found a way to make them.”
In the first half, Wembanyama scored 24 points, marking his highest first-half score, and he equaled that production with another 26 points in the second half against the Wizards.
He now holds the distinction of being the first player in NBA history to tally 20 3-pointers and 25 blocks in a stretch of six games.
Additionally, Wembanyama becomes the eighth player in Spurs history to reach the 50-point milestone, a list that includes David Robinson, who holds the franchise record with 71 points in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 24, 1994.
While this achievement is significant, Wembanyama is already looking ahead to the next challenge against the Los Angeles Lakers, which is set to kick off the Emirates NBA Cup on Friday.
“I enjoy celebrating both small and big victories briefly, but we are already focused on the Lakers tomorrow,” Wembanyama affirmed.
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