Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, enjoyed his first career victory on Friday night, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-122 overtime win over the Houston Rockets.
Wembanyama finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in the game. He was especially dominant in the fourth quarter and overtime, scoring 13 of his 21 points in those two periods.
With the Spurs trailing by two points late in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama grabbed a defensive rebound and tied the game on a driving layup with 20 seconds remaining. He then came up with a steal on the Rockets' next possession, which led to a go-ahead basket by Keldon Johnson.
In overtime, Wembanyama scored six points and grabbed two rebounds to help the Spurs seal the win.
After the game, Wembanyama said that he was "really, really happy" to get his first NBA win.
"It's what I love most in life," Wembanyama said. "Winning feels great."
Wembanyama's performance was particularly impressive considering that he was playing against another highly-touted rookie, Jabari Smith Jr. Smith finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, but he was no match for Wembanyama's size, length, and athleticism.
Wembanyama's first NBA win is a good sign of things to come for the Spurs. The 19-year-old Frenchman has the potential to be a superstar in the NBA, and he is already starting to show why he was the No. 1 overall pick.
With Wembanyama leading the way, the Spurs could be a surprise contender in the Western Conference this season.
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