Less than half way into his rookie season, Victor Wembanyama has already proven to be the type of generational talent that made him the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Now he's also setting NBA records.
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During the San Antonio Spurs' 130-108 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Wembanyama finished the night with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists — marking the first triple-double of the French sensation's NBA career.
Victor Wembanyama's first career triple-double 👏
At 20 years old, @Wemby is the youngest center in NBA history to record a triple-double and he did it in just 21 minutes! pic.twitter.com/9K2dcTtrgq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 11, 2024
What's more, Wednesday's performance made Wembanyama — who turned 20 years old on January 4th — the youngest center in NBA history to ever record a triple-double. Regardless of position, only four players (Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball, Markelle Fultz, and Luka Doncic) have ever recorded an NBA triple-double when they were younger than 20.
Although that's not all for Wemby's record-setting night. The Spurs' star center managed to record Wednesday's triple-double while only playing 21:02 minutes; which is the second-fewest minutes in a triple-double performance in the shot clock era (since 1954-55).
The only person to have posted a triple-double in less minutes is the triple-double deity Russell Westbrook, who recorded one in 20:17 minutes during his Oklahoma City Thunder tenure a decade ago.
After the game, Wembanyama didn't downplay how much record-breaking performances like these mean to him.
"Doing it in a win is everything, of course," said Wembanyama postgame, according to ESPN. "I didn't know it was the second fastest in NBA history. It matters to me. I'm not the type to talk for nothing. This is the kind of statement we want to make as a team, and this is type of statement I want to make as a player."
Quite the statement to make.
You didn't think we were done noting all the records Wemby broke on Wednesday, did you? The triple-double made him the fourth rookie to produce one without a turnover, ever since individual turnovers were first tracked during the 1977-78 season. The first three rookies to have done so were Ben Simmons, Andre Iguodala, and Spurs legend David Robinson — although Wembanyama was the youngest.
Victor Wembanyama (20yr, 6d) becomes the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple double with 0 turnovers (since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78), previous: Andre Iguodala (21yr, 54d) 03/23/2005 https://t.co/0mIqkAwYUi pic.twitter.com/KwSfPQ8cRM
— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2024
Speaking of Robinson, Wembanyama joins him as the second Spurs rookie to ever have a triple-double.
We don't know what happened to Wemby's game-worn jersey from Wednesday night. Yet, considering how much his debut jersey was auctioned off for a few months ago, somebody within the Spurs organization would have been wise to snag it for a future auction.
Then again, Wembanyama surely has more record-setting nights in store.
