There has long been a feeling that San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is going to become the best player in the NBA at some point, and that point may be arriving in the playoffs.
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman dominated the San Antonio Spurs’ 122-115 double overtime win against Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with a record-breaking performance, becoming the youngest player in league history to put up at least 40 points with 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
This came on the night his rival, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, was formally announced as the league MVP.
Victor Wembanyama MVP
The NBA officially announced its MVP for the 2025-26 season Monday night, and for the second consecutive year, it was Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Wembanyama proceeded to outplay him in San Antonio’s Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals, but downplayed any significance to that or that he was trying to send a message.
“The message would be that we as a team are ready to go into any environment, any place against anybody,” Wembanyama said afterward. “Even though we’ve still got a lot to learn, our effort should be over everybody else’s. Tonight, we were relentless.”
Wemby stats last game
Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points with 24 rebounds, making him the youngest player in NBA history at 22 years, 134 days to put up at least 40 Optimus and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
He was 14-25 from the field, 12-13 from the free throw line with three assists, three turnovers and three blocks.
Wembanyama standing reach
Victor Wembanyama has an official standing reach of 9 feet, 7 inches, just five inches shorter than the 10-foot rim. He can basically dunk flat-footed.
Wembanyama hand size
Victor Wembanyama never participated in a draft combine, so there is no official measurement on his hand size, but it is estimated to be 10 1/4 inches in length and 10 3/4 inches in span. He can easily palm a basketball.
Wemby elbow
Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid. There was speculation that he could face suspension for Game 5, but ultimately no further punishment was imposed.
That marked his first career ejection.
San Antonio Spurs record without Wembanyama
The Spurs went 12-6 this year in games without Victor Wembanyama and 50-14 in games with him.
Wembanyama stats
In the regular season, Wembanayama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, flooding 51.2% from the field.
In the playoffs, he is averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 4.1 blocks per game.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Victor Wembanyama sets NBA record against MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
