By Sam Joseph, CNN
(CNN) — No. 1 overall pick 2023 Victor Wembanyama appears to be doing something unprecedented on a weekly basis.
San Antonio Spurs rookie I filled out the statistics sheet in a 132-118 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and two steals while hitting 5 of 7 from three-point range, edging out fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Chet Holmgren.
The Frenchman became the first player in NBA record for recording 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 5+ blocks, and 5+ threesomes in a game, according to the NBA.
The phenom also capped off a dominant February by becoming the first NBA player to average two steals, two triples and three blocks in one month.
It was a welcome victory for the rebuilding Spurs – who returned home from their annual Rodeo Road Trip and are last in the West at 12-48 this season – making the evening even sweeter for Wembanyama, who made clear that he only wants his historic achievements to translate into victories.
“It’s a lot of mental work” Wembanyama explained after the match. “You know, Kobe (Bryant) said that to win a game, you mainly need shots, big shots, because they don’t whistle like any foul. It’s not so much the physical battle. Even though on defense it’s 90 percent effort, but offensively it’s a lot of mental effort.
It was an upset victory for ‘Wemby’ and San Antonio, eliminating a team on the other end of the standings. The Thunder entered Thursday’s game with a 41-17 record, second in the West and just a half-game behind the top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
The underdog Spurs were forced to protect their lead late as the Thunder staged a comeback in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama took over late in the final period, hitting a couple of crucial triples to extend his team’s advantage.
Thursday’s game also featured what is considered one of the NBA’s greatest player rivalries for the next decade. Wembanyama faced OKC center Holmgren, who was drafted second overall in 2022 but is listed as a rookie after missing all of last season due to injury.
Both players represent a new breed of NBA big man: centers who combine a typical presence in the paint with guard skills on the perimeter. Fans sometimes call them “unicorns” due to their rarity.
Holmgren had an impressive performance of his own, putting up 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists. However, Wembenyama had the last laugh, blocking a Holmgren jump shot on a crucial possession in the last two minutes to ice the game.
Holmgren lamented his team’s surprise loss after the game.
“It’s just another reminder that this is the NBA.” he said. “No team is in the NBA for no reason. No player is in the NBA for no reason. Any team can beat another team on any night, regardless of their record or anything. They came away feeling confident. Part of it was them, part of it was us. We should be better next time.
Thunder MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the game with 31 points, while Devin Vassell matched Wembanyama’s total of 28 points for the Spurs.
Both teams will next take the court on Sunday – San Antonio will host the Indiana Pacers, while OKC, now 41-18, will visit the Phoenix Suns.
The-CNN-Wire
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