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Michael C. Wright, ESPN Staff WriterDec 2, 2024, 01:50 AM ET
- Joined ESPN in 2010
- Previously covered Bears for ESPN.com
- Played college football at West Texas A&M
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama fired his 10th assist to Devin Vassell with 2:49 left Sunday to seal his third career triple-double in his club’s 127-125 comeback victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The win and the latest career milestone smoothed over a slow start for Wembanyama, who scored a game-high 34 points with 14 rebounds and 11 assists on a night the Spurs broke the franchise’s single-game record for 3-pointers made with 23.
“As far as my own performance, to recap, [I’d say] adaptability,” Wembanyama said. “I think we adapted pretty well to their scouting report. The triple-double is just a byproduct of making the right choices.”
Wembanyama joined David Robinson (4), Dejounte Murray (3) and Alvin Robertson as the only players in Spurs franchise history to roll up 30-point triple doubles. The 20-year old drained 5-of-9 from 3-point range and notched three blocks, making him just the third player in NBA history behind James Harden and Vince Carter to tally a 30-point triple double with five 3-pointers or more and 3-plus blocks, according to ESPN Research.
Wembanyama also became the first Spur to hit five 3’s in a triple-double performance, making him and DeMarcus Cousins the only centers all-time to have produced such numbers in a single game.
Still, Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson minced no words in describing Wembanyama’s performance early on in a game that San Antonio surrendered 25 points off 16 turnovers.
The Frenchman was responsible for a team-high five of those giveaways.
“I thought he had some very poor moments in the first three quarters in terms of fundamentals and solid basketball, and it’s a testament to him and his ability to lock in,” Johnson explained. “I thought in the fourth quarter he was a man. I thought he dominated. Dominating the fundamentals for him – the catches, the passes, the solid stuff – it’s still spectacular. But when he does that, he’s a load.”
Wembanyama committed four or his turnovers over the first three quarters of a game Sacramento led by as many as 17 points. Over that span, the second-year pro connected on all five of his 3-pointers. But in the final frame, Wembanyama locked in to help San Antonio bring home another clutch game victory.
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With 5:00 left to play, the contest was tied at 111. In the fourth quarter alone, Wembanyama scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks.
Wembanyama has drawn plenty of criticism this season as a 7-footer, who gravitates away from the paint to a more perimeter-oriented game. But both Johnson and teammate Harrison Barnes, a former Sacramento King, encouraged onlookers to consider the diversity of Wembanyama’s style and how it keeps opponents guessing.
“It’s his biggest strength,” Johnson said, “and at times that can be the thing [players] have to grow into or learn from. He can do everything. So, when you have that many options on the menu, to think you’re going to pick the right one every time is tough. And he’s a young player that’s learning how to use all the weapons that he has. So, there’s tremendous belief and great support for him as he learns when and where to utilize all those weapons. And I think just constantly holding himself accountable as he does of the fundamental stuff is what will allow those things to pop off the page.”
Barnes mentioned he receives plenty of questions about his new Spurs teammate and hears “so many criticisms” about his overall shot diet.
“And my thing is, look, he’s going to play his style and he’s going to do it his way [like] tonight, where he goes and defensively patrols the paint, but then offensively be able to score, be able to play-make, be able to rebound, do all these different things,” he said. “It may not be the exact mold that people want him to be in or expect him to be in. But he’s going to do it his way, and his biggest thing is he wants to win. That’s his North star. That’s what motivates him. That’s what makes him special.”
Wembanyama admitted, however, that “it’s an everyday fight” to find the best ways to attack opponents on both ends of the floor. Wembanyama and point guard Chris Paul (13 points, 10 assists) both produced points-assists double-doubles in Sunday’s contest, marking the third time in the last 30 seasons San Antonio finished with multiple players tallying at least 10 points and 10 assists in the same game.
Wembanyama wants more. So, it’s no surprise he plans to stick to his routine of constantly hitting up the personnel in San Antonio’s film room looking for ways to improve.
After finishing 13-28 last season in clutch games, San Antonio now owns a record of 5-3 in such scenarios.
“I personally like to get a lot of content from the video room, and they do a great job of targeting certain areas and certain types of plays where we need to get better,” Wembanyama said. “This is something I’ve really loved from them all season so far. Every time they’ve given me advice or content to watch, it’s been very purposeful, and it’s worked. Tonight, as a team we took a step forward because teams have tried to guard us differently all season and we’ve responded better and better. And tonight, we responded the best against a certain type of defense that we faced since a couple games [ago]. So, to answer your question, I think being purposeful is the most important and not just watching tape to watch it.”
