The NBA was abuzz with excitement on Wednesday night as rookie Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to an overtime victory over the Houston Rockets in his debut. The Spurs were down by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, but Wembanyama’s clutch shooting and playmaking helped them rally back and force overtime.
The 21-year-old from Cameroon was selected by the Spurs with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He had an impressive preseason, averaging 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. But no one could have predicted the kind of performance he put on in his first regular season game.
Wembanyama scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He also had seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. His biggest contribution came in the fourth quarter when he scored 11 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with just over a minute left in regulation.
The Spurs went on to win the game in overtime, thanks in large part to Wembanyama’s heroics. It was a remarkable performance for a rookie in his first NBA game, and it’s clear that Wembanyama is going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.
The Spurs are hoping that Wembanyama can help them make a deep playoff run this year. With his impressive debut, it looks like they may have found the missing piece to their championship puzzle.
