NBA: Double block, monster dunk… Wembanyama’s incredible finale against Houston

It was the Wembie show! After a disappointing first NBA experience against FC Dallas (119-126), Victor Vembanyama seemed to truly begin his American adventure on Friday night. And in style: The No. 1 overall pick in the last draft rejoiced in the San Antonio Spurs’ 126-122 win over Houston.

With a double block, a reverse slam and some decisive moves in regulation, the 19-year-old Frenchman rewarded the 18,000 crowd at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center with a brilliant finish, especially during the fourth. quarter and then absolutely boiling overtime.

Decisive on both sides of the floor

Rather subdued during the first three quarters, with no three-point shooting skills (0 for 6), Wembanyama came out of his box at the best of times, notably allowing the Spurs to tie the game at 111 at the end of four periods. He has previously produced several high-profile performances on both sides of the floor. We start with this lane on Tre Jones’ serve, turning in the air.

Social media continued to burn after another brazen dunk from the former Mets player from Boulogne-Levallois, who walked Jabari Smith Jr. before finishing things off with a powerful reverse tomahawk.

But the most astonishing performance of the Spurs number one was undoubtedly the huge double response to poor Smith Jr, who was brutalized by the Frenchman in the fourth quarter. The Rockets player simply couldn’t believe it.

If everything didn’t go perfectly for Wemby in his second game in the NBA, the Spurs’ new favorite still ended up with a double-double, showing himself outstanding statistics for a rookie: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals. and 3 blocks.

“All my life I have preferred the end of matches where I feel better. But this is also an area for improvement to be able to contribute to the team from the very beginning. Let’s just say we have to push the team up at any cost, I can’t afford to show a bad face if I want to help this team win,” he said with restraint at a press conference. Victor Wembanyama’s next opportunity to shine is Sunday night (2 hours) against his French teammate Nicolas Batum’s Los Angeles Clippers.