The Rise of Victor Wembanyama: A Legendary NBA Career in the Making

Get the latest on Victor Wembanyama's historic start to his NBA career, with milestones and stats that put him among the all-time greats.

Victor Wembanyama has made history in his first 100 NBA games, surpassing legends like LeBron James and Allen Iverson in scoring.

Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old French sensation, has reached a milestone in his young NBA career, playing in his 100th game. The San Antonio Spurs' 113-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets marked this achievement, highlighting Wembanyama's rapid growth and impressive performances in the league.

Wembanyama's arrival in the NBA was highly anticipated, with many drawing comparisons to LeBron James' debut in 2003. As the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Wembanyama brought unprecedented physical attributes to the league, standing at 2.23 meters with a remarkable 2.43-meter wingspan. His dominance in France with Paris Metropolitans 92 had already earned him a reputation as a rising star, and expectations were high for him to make an immediate impact with the Spurs under the guidance of legendary coach Gregg Popovich.

Victor Wembanyama's first 100 games in the NBA have been nothing short of spectacular. The 20-year-old has amassed an impressive 2,273 points, surpassing the likes of Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, and Dwyane Wade in the process. In fact, over the last 45 years, only six players, including Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic, have scored more points than Wembanyama in their first 100 games.

Victor Wembanyama on his 21st bday:

👽 2,273 PTS
👽 1,053 REB
👽 386 AST
👽 366 BLK
👽 225 3PM

He's the only player ever to reach those thresholds through 100 games 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3Ro9XceMez

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2025

Wembanyama's scoring average of 22.7 points per game is equally impressive, with only a handful of players boasting better averages. Notably, Zion Williamson, James, Doncic, and Shaquille O'Neal are the only players to have averaged more points per game than Wembanyama. Furthermore, Wembanyama's three-point shooting has been remarkably consistent, with 225 three-pointers in his first 100 games. This feat is all the more impressive considering his position as a center, and only 11 players in NBA history have achieved this milestone more quickly than Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyama's impressive statistics extend beyond scoring, as he has also excelled in assists for a center. Among players with a height of at least 2.10 meters, Wembanyama ranks third in assists in his first 100 games, with 386. Only the legendary Bill Walton (440) and Brad Daugherty (398) have recorded more assists at this stage of their careers.

Wembanyama's defensive prowess is equally impressive, as he leads an illustrious list of players in blocks. His 366 blocks in his first 100 games surpass the likes of Shaquille O'Neal (349), Alonzo Mourning (341), Dikembe Mutombo (309), Hakeem Olajuwon (268), and Tim Duncan (247). Only Spurs legend David Robinson (383) and the towering Manute Bol (425) have recorded more blocks in their first 100 games.

In rebounds, Wembanyama has left a trail of legendary players in his wake. His 1,053 rebounds in his first 100 games dwarf the totals of Andre Drummond (964), Anthony Davis (899), Karl Malone (899), Charles Barkley (864), and Kevin Garnett (677). Furthermore, Wembanyama's averages of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds make him the first player since Shaquille O'Neal to achieve these figures before his 21st birthday.