Victor Wembanyama has surely done enough to land the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after leading the San Antonio Spurs to a comeback win over Chet Holmgren’s Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
That is the view of Spurs guard Devin Vassell, though Wembanyama himself has warned there is a long way to go before he can celebrate capturing the prize.
The Spurs gave up a 12-point lead to fall behind in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s matchup at AT&T Center, which pitted Wembanyama against his main competitor for the award in Holmgren.
Read our other sports news stories here:
Joel Embiid injury: Sixers’ playoff hopes have no bearing on return
Steelers have ‘full faith’ in Pickett despite offensive struggles
LeBron James turns in Superman display to crush Clippers
Holmgren finished with 23 points in support of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31) and Jalen Williams (26) but it wasn’t enough to get the Thunder over the line, with the Spurs roaring back late on.
Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, putting the Spurs nine up when he hit a 3-pointer with just two minutes and 10 seconds on the clock before putting in a crucial block on Holmgren.
The seven-foot-four rookie became the first player in NBA history to have at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and five 3-pointers in a game, leaving Vassell awestruck.
Asked about the race to be named Rookie of the Year, Vassell said: “That kid is special. I feel like it’s over.
“Night in, night out, the stuff that he does, the impact that he has on both ends of the floor, big shot after big block… he doesn’t even look like a rookie.
“The shots that he shoots, the confidence that he has in his game is second to none, truthfully.”
“I love it” pic.twitter.com/qIPkpb7NVu
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 1, 2024
San Antonio continued to put the ball in Wembanyama’s hands in the closing stages, and the 20-year-old said demanding possession in clutch moments was something he took from watching the NBA’s greats.
“I would say it’s a requisite for any player who wants to be great,” Wembanyama said.
“Most players in the league, they’ve been through a lot of challenges, and I’ve been through a lot of challenges in my basketball life, so it’s something you have to live with.
“It is what it is. You want to be great or you don’t.”
Asked if he thought the Rookie of the Year prize was sewn up after beating his foremost rival, he said: “No, because there’s still 22 games left. So no, it’s not over.”
The Spurs’ win ended a five-game losing streak and improved them to 12-48 on the season, though they remain at the foot of the Western Conference standings.
SPURS WIN! SPURS WIN! SPURS WIN! @FrostBank | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/eJnCqyXIny
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 1, 2024
