There is a lot of hype around rookies Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, and in just six games the long and lanky duo have already made NBA history by achieving a feat that no other player in league history has ever done.
Heading into the 2023-24 NBA season, one of the biggest stories in the league is on French phenom Victor Wembanyama. The 20-year-old is the most talked about prospect since Lebron James entered the NBA in 2004. However, after suffering a season-ending injury before the start of last season, 2022 No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren is also taking part in his first year in the league.
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It all means that two hyper-talented and unique-looking big men are undergoing the ups and downs of a debut season in the Association. Yet, both have quickly shown the potential they have over their first few weeks. After seven games, “Wemby” leads the San Antonio Spurs in points (19.4), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (2.6) as a player just barely out of his teens.
Holmgren is also off to a strong start, as he is second in points per game (17.0) for the playoff-contending Oklahoma City Thunder, and leads the team in rebounds (8.0) and blocks (2.4) after his first seven appearances. However, both men have apparently already made NBA history as they build their “Rookie of the Year” resumes.
Victor Wembanyama stats (’23-’24): 19.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.6 SPG, 32.4 3PT
Per OptaSTATS, “Chet Holmgren of the (13 3PM, 14 blocks) and Victor Wembanyama of the (10 3PM, 16 blocks) are the only players in NBA history to have both 10+ blocks and 10+ made threes through six career NBA games.”
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It is a wild stat and shows just how unique the pair of seven-footers are. Not only do they have that classic skillset of a big man who can turn away shots at a high level, but they are also skilled shooters who can knock down a trey like bigs in this current era can. However, doing it so quickly as they navigate the pitfalls of the league and continue to learn their team’s playing style is amazing.
Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will face off for the first time on Nov. 14 on TNT when the Thunder visit the Spurs.
