When Victor Wembanyama was taken first general by the San Antonio Spurs, he was instantly talked about alongside the greats. The basketball world anticipated him to turn out to be the following Spurs large man to dominate the league, similar to Tim Duncan and David Robinson did earlier than him. As we speak, he takes his first step in becoming a member of them on the apex of the franchise.
The NBA introduced that Victor Wembanyama is the unanimous 2023-24 Kia Rookie of the Yr. He turns into the third rookie in Spurs franchise historical past to win the award, together with Duncan and Robinson. He turns into the primary Spur to take action since 1997 when Duncan gained the award. He joins the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero because the second-straight first-overall-pick to win Rookie of the Yr. Earlier than Banchero and Wembanyama, 4 straight winners have been chosen with the second decide or decrease.
The Spurs rookie beat out the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller for the award. Wembanyama gained the award unanimously, securing all 99 first-place votes. Holmgren completed because the runner-up. Wembanyama is the sixth participant to win the award unanimously. He joins Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard and Karl-Anthony Cities as unanimous winners of the award.
Wembanyama averaged 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per sport because the Spurs went 22-60 in his rookie season. Wemby averaged probably the most factors for a Rookie of the Yr since Griffin (22.5 ppg) in 2011. He’s the primary to common a double-double since Cities did so in 2016.
Victor solely obtained higher because the season went on. In January, when the Spurs moved Wembanyama to the full-time beginning heart, the rookie began to place up monster performances nearly nightly. Wembanyama was the second rookie to publish a 5×5 stat line (Jamaal Tinsley was the primary.) He’s the primary participant in league historical past to achieve 1,500 factors, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers made in a single season.
This isn’t the one award Wembanyama might win. On Tuesday the NBA will announce the Defensive Participant of the Yr award. Wembanyama is a finalist together with Rudy Gobert and Herb Jones. Wembanyama has an opportunity to be the primary rookie to win. If this season was just the start of what’s to come back, Wembanyama may have a big trophy room when it’s all mentioned and performed.
