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[Saba Sports News] The exceptional talents of Victor Wembanyama are leaving sportswriters searching for new ways to describe his extraordinary performances in his debut NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs. In a recent game against the Washington Wizards at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Wembanyama added an impressive play to his collection of highlights.
During the second quarter, with the Spurs leading 46-43, a Wizards center attempted a floater over Wembanyama in the paint. The French rookie did more than just block the shot; he astonishingly grabbed it out of the air before it could reach its highest point.
This display of skill left Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s former teammate from Metropolitans 92 and now on the Wizards’ bench, visibly impressed, likely recalling similar feats from their practice sessions.
Wembanyama’s block is notable for its difficulty level. It came against a 6’10” center, Daniel Gafford, who had intentionally arched the shot. Remarkably, Wembanyama managed to reach the ball despite jumping from a flatfooted position.
Entering the game, Wembanyama was leading the NBA with an average of 3.1 blocks per game, a significant feat for someone not yet legally allowed to drink in the U.S. This average surpasses even that of three-time Defensive Player of the Year and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert, who has never averaged more than 2.6 blocks per game in his decade-long NBA career.
Wembanyama’s ability to block shots at a higher rate than Gobert, coupled with his skill to perform moves like the Shammgod crossover, showcases his unique and arguably unfair advantage on the court.