NBA: 40 points for Wembanyama against the Knicks, his new record to lead the Spurs to victory

Victor Wembanyama ne semble pas avoir de limites. MAXPPP – ADAM DAVIS

Le prodige français Victor Wembanyama a battu son record de points avec 40 unités pour aider les San Antonio Spurs à dominer les New York Knicks vendredi en NBA (130-126 après prolongation).

French prodigy Victor Wembanyama broke his points record with 40 points to help the San Antonio Spurs dominate the New York Knicks on Friday in the NBA (130-126 after overtime).

Wembanyama, aged 20, even became the first "rookie" (beginner) to accumulate more than 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993. "Wemby" finished the game with 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 block.

Despite the gloomy 2023/2024 financial year of the San Antonio Spurs, last in the West with their 18th victory of the season only on Friday, Victor Wembanyama achieved individual feats, in the middle of the collective slump.

WHAT. A. BATTLE. 🤯

Jalen Brunson: 61 PTS (career high) | 25 FGM | 5 3PM | 6 AST

Victor Wembanyama: 40 PTS (career high) | 20 REB | 7 AST

Spurs top the Knicks in an overtime THRILLER. pic.twitter.com/SSF1NOUDWp

— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2024

The "record" by "Wemby" already dated November 2, 2023, an eternity in the NBA, when he compiled 38 points to beat Kevin Durant's Phoenix Suns. Friday, the 2.24 m Frenchman, with unique agility for his size, stole the show from Knicks leader Jalen Brunson, who scored 61 points, his record, one unit shy of the record. its franchise owned by Carmelo Anthony (62 points in 2014).

If the Spurs have nothing left to play at the end of the season, Wembanyama took advantage of this match with overtime to delight his audience and score the baskets, notably a long-range shot to give a four-point lead to the Texans with 1:12 remaining in overtime.

"Pride"

"I've seen so many beautiful things (in the NBA), I want to be part of it", launched Wembanyama, No.1 of the 2023 Draft. "I always wanted it, but it& This is even more the case now that I see that I can already fight with these players. I'm not close (to the summit) but I'm on the right track. I know, I'll get there soon".

"I have a certain pride in doing new things, trying to fill out my CV too. It's always something that I try to do, to be different, unique, to mark people too", he continued in French .

👽 PERFORMANCE COLOSSALE DE VICTOR WEMBANYAMA 🇫🇷 FACE AUX KNICKS !

40 points, 20 rebonds et 7 passes décisives en 38 minutes (à 13–22 au tir, 4–9 à 3-points et 10–12 aux lancers), dans une victoire en prolongation.

Que dire de plus… ? 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/irRfirw3FV

— Basket USA 🏀 (@basketusa) March 30, 2024

"He is special", admitted his coach Gregg Popovich, at the head of a team in reconstruction which hopes to quickly return to the forefront in the wake of its phenomenon. Before dreaming of a better ranking next season, Victor Wembanyama should return to the French team this summer to shine at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 & August 11).