Victor Wembanyama came into the NBA with immense hype. At 7-foot-4, this French phenom had the ball-handling skills of a guard and the shot-blocking presence of a classic rim protector. So when the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the first overall pick, it was clear they expected big things. And boy, did he deliver.
He entered his rookie season with some of the highest expectations we’ve seen in years, and the Spurs wasted no time treating him like a star. Wembanyama not only met those expectations but surpassed them, earning every single first-place vote to become a unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year. That makes him just the sixth player in league history to win the award unanimously, alongside Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finished second, earning 98 out of 99 second-place votes, while Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller came in third. But this was Wembanyama’s year, and he made sure everyone knew it.
Sure, the Spurs struggled with a 22-60 record, matching their mark from the previous season. But when you looked closer, you saw how much impact Wembanyama had every time he was on the floor. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was 12th in the league, and he ranked 11th in box plus/minus. He was 10th in total rebound rate, 6th in usage rate, and topped the charts in block rate. These stats, sourced from basketball-reference.com, put him in elite company.
And his usage rate is particularly impressive. He was sixth overall, with the next highest rookie being Scoot Henderson, who was 38th. Despite opponents focusing their defense on him, Wembanyama still maintained a .565 true shooting rate, which was better than some established players like Dejounte Murray and Malcolm Brogdon. His defensive skills were also top-notch; he led the league in block rate and was a consistent presence in the paint.
When you compare him to other rookies, it’s even more remarkable. Yahoo Sports’ Ben Rohrbach pointed out that no other teenager, not even LeBron James, posted numbers like Wembanyama’s. Here’s how they stack up:
– Wembanyama (2023-24): 21.4 PTS (47/33/80), 10.6 REB, 3.9 AST (3.7 TO), 1.2 STL, 3.6 BLK
– James (2003-04): 20.9 PTS (42/29/75), 5.5 REB, 5.9 AST (3.5 TO), 1.6 STL, 0.7 BLK
His Player Efficiency Rating puts him in the same conversation as Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal. And while there were concerns about his slim frame holding up against the NBA’s big men, Wembanyama played 71 games, averaging nearly 30 minutes each night. Not bad for a rookie with a minutes restriction.
We could go on about his highlights and jaw-dropping plays, but the bottom line is this: Victor Wembanyama exceeded every expectation and has set the stage for what could be an incredible career. This rookie season might be just the beginning, but it’s a heck of a start.
