“I’m built for this”: Wembanyama scores 39 and earns a place in NBA history
A record-setting night for Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Playoffs: the French star joins an exclusive club with Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq after the Spurs’ win over the Timberwolves
Friday night in Minneapolis, Victor Wembanyama did something that goes beyond simply “playing great basketball”. The Spurs beat the Timberwolves 115-108 to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series, and he finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. But the numbers alone do not tell the whole story.
That was only Wemby’s seventh career playoff game, yet he reached a milestone that only three other players in NBA history had ever achieved: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal. That is, 35+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ blocks in a single postseason game.
It feels good to be mentioned with those great champions. In the fourth quarter I had to bring out some things Hakeem taught me… especially that spinning fadeaway over Rudy
Victor Wembanyama
But there is one detail that separates Wemby from those three giants: he is the only one of the four to do it while shooting better than 70% from the field. Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq all got there. None of them, however, shot the way he did Friday night – 13-of-18 from the field, 10-of-12 at the line.
I’m built for this. I love all of this more than anything
Victor Wembanyama
After the game, De’Aaron Fox made it clear:
He steps on the floor and produces. We’re witnessing greatness
De’Aaron Fox
The Spurs now lead 2-1 and are playing with the freedom of a team that has nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Wolves must solve the biggest problem in this series, and that problem is named Victor Wembanyama – one that, so far, has no answer.