Victor Wembanyama scores 50 points against Washington. The almost 2.30 meter tall center achieved a special record. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs release a diagnosis for their coach Gregg Popovich.
Victor Wembanyama has made NBA history again. The 20-year-old Frenchman became the fourth-youngest player to reach this mark with a new career best of 50 points in his San Antonio Spurs' 139:130 win against the Washington Wizards. Only Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker have been younger in league history.
“He has exceeded the mythical 50-point mark that only the best – around ten players every season – achieve,” said the French newspaper “Le Parisien” and dared to look into the future: “Where will he stop? How many points, how many heroic deeds, how many records?” Also “L'Équipe” Wembanyama celebrated. “His two compatriots Bilal Coulibaly and Alexandre Sarr at the Washington Wizards received a lightning strike from Wemby,” wrote the renowned sports paper.
Wembanyama, who according to the NBA is officially 2.25 meters tall (other sources say 2.30 meters), also scored eight three-pointers against Washington, making him the tallest player to ever achieve this in the NBA.
“I'd like to tell you that you wake up a certain way or feel really good when you're warming up, but at the end of the day in the NBA we have a game every other day,” said Wembanyama, explaining his fabulous performance rather matter-of-factly afterwards. The Frenchman has now converted six or more three-pointers in three games in a row.
Popovich suffers stroke
Meanwhile, the Spurs have to be without their coach for an indefinite period of time for medical reasons. Star coach Gregg Popovich suffered a minor stroke, the NBA club from Texas announced a few hours before the home game against Washington. The incident occurred on November 2nd in the home arena Frost Bank Center.
According to the Spurs, Popovich, who also led the USA national team to gold at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, has already begun rehabilitation. The 75-year-old is expected to fully recover from his stroke. However, there is currently no time frame for when the successful coach will return to the sidelines.
Popovich has coached the Spurs since 1996, making him the NBA record holder for longest tenure at one club. During this time he led the club to a total of five NBA titles. For his achievements he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. Popovich has also been president of the Spurs operating company responsible for basketball since 2008.
rc with dpa
