There’s no question San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is one star that’s bound to go far in the NBA. But for Philadelphia 76ers star Nicolas Batum, the French phenom’s rise doesn’t come as a surprise to him.
Wembanyama’s insane talent on the court was last seen in the Spurs’ 133-126 loss to the the Sixers. In that game, the Rookie of the Year-favorite dropped 33 points on 55 percent shooting from the field, 18 rebounds, six assists, and seven blocks. Along with the French star’s all-around game, Malaki Branham added 22 points, while Tre Jones and Julian Champagnie each had 17 points as part of the starting lineup.
Playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey found himself unleashed when he tallied 52 points and seven assists for Philadelphia. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points while Paul Reed contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds as the starting center in place of Embiid.
Even though the Spurs have sunk to the bottom of the Western Conference with 19 wins and 59 losses, the future remains bright for the team because of Wembanyama. With all of the records he broke and the number he put up, there’s no reason not to be excited about what comes next for the Spurs rookie.
Nicolas Batum Reveals Insane Detail About San Antonio Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama
After the game, Batum spoke to the media and revealed something about Wembanyama. In a tweet posted by Tom Orsborn on X:
Batum on Wemby: “I have known that kid for a long time. Nobody (who has known him) is shocked at what he is doing. The only thing is, I didn’t think he would do that in year one. I was like maybe year two. That’s the only thing I am kind of surprised about. He is a special man,” Orsborn tweeted.
This season, Wembanyama averaged 21.3 points 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest. He is also leading the league in blocked shots with 3.6 of them per game.
What everyone is seeing now has been seen before by Batum and those who know Wembanyama before he entered the NBA. With how he has performed this year and the way he’s trending, it only makes sense for the Spurs rookie to become better in the future.
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