Victor Wembayama was named NBA Rookie of the Year after a record-breaking first season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Victor Vembanyama arrived in the NBA with enormous expectations and responded with one of the best rookie campaigns The league saw that.
Wembaniyama was named NBA Rookie of the Year this MondayReceiving 99 first place votes. The theme of Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren, the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, finished second with 98 second-place votes. Last season's second pick, Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets finished third.
Vembaniama? is Sixth unanimous Rookie of the Year In NBA history, joins Ralph Sampson (1984), David Robinson (1990), Blake Griffin (2011), Damian Lillard (2013) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2016) joins her with two other No. 1 picks in San Antonio Spurs franchise history The award winners join Robinson and Tim Duncan (1998).
In 71 games this season, Vembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals. The last player to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a single season was Shaquille O'Neal, who did so in an MVP season in 1999-2000.
Vembanyama became the second rookie in NBA history In leading the league in blocks (since blocks were officially recorded as a statistic in 1973–74), Joining Manute Bol, He achieved the feat in 1985-86. Wembaniama became the first freshman to record 250 blocks in a season since Alonso Morning and O'Neal did in 1992-93. Wembaniama averaged 4.5 blocks per game after the All-Star break, the most of any player since the All-Star break. Interval after Dikembe Mutombo in 1994.
Your average 4.81 steals and blocks per game Most “actions” of any player in a season Since Ben Wallace did it in 2001-02The first year he won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Wembaniyama is one of three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, along with Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. Due to the volatility of the all-defensive team, Vembanyama could become the first freshman to make the All-Defense first team week end.
As impressive as he was on the defensive end, Wembaniyama's offense moved faster than many expected. With 128 triples, he became the first player in NBA history with 250 blocks and 100 triples. In the same season.
Average 0.72 points per minute This season, the Most in any season since Michael Jordan (Minimum 1,000 minutes).
Vembanyama also recorded two triple-doubles: One with help and other with modules. On January 10, he had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Detroit Pistons. A month later, on February 12, he scored 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks against the Toronto Raptors.
After 11 days, Vembanyama finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 5×5 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.Eight assists, five blocks and five steals, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 5×5.
In overtime performance On March 29 against the New York Knicks, Wembaniama scored 40 points and 20 rebounds. In the highest scoring game of the season.
As blocks became an official statistic, Hakeem Olajuwon and Anthony Davis were the only other players to have a 40-point, 20-rebound game, 5-on-5 game and 10-block game.
Despite all of Wembayama's accomplishments, San Antonio finished with the same record as a season ago (22-60) and needed seven wins in its final 11 games to get there.
While Spurs are still a young team and nobody thinks their record won't improve, Vembanyama takes a long-term view.
“I don't think at any point I'm not in the best situation. I'm not in the best place,” Wembaniama said on the final day of the season. “Obviously, I'd like us to be in the playoffs, and of course I'd like us to go 60 games without a loss.
“But as tough as it was today, I know it's long-term. I believe in my teammates 100 percent and I believe in the program. So, really, my faith … hasn't wavered at any point.”
