Victor Wembanyama, a Congolese-rooted star, put up 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocks, then hit the clutch free throw to beat Dallas 112-111.
The African diaspora has a new face on the NBA's biggest stage, and he stands 7-foot-4. Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old Frenchman with Congolese roots, delivered a historic night for San Antonio, scoring a career-high 52 points and grabbing a career-best 24 rebounds in a 112-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
With the game on a knife-edge, Wembanyama stepped to the line and sank the winning free throw with 24.2 seconds left. That sealed the Spurs' sixth consecutive victory and capped a night that had the home crowd chanting "MVP" on Wednesday.
He was just as dominant at the other end. Wembanyama blocked eight shots, including three in a span of only 13 seconds during the second quarter. Few players in the league can swallow up the paint like that while also carrying the scoring load.
Nights like this invite comparisons to the all-time greats, and the Wilt Chamberlain talk is already flying. For fans across Africa and the diaspora, it is a proud moment to watch a player of his heritage rewrite what a big man can do. The Spurs are rolling, and Wembanyama is playing like a man who wants the league's top individual prize.
