Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023, Victor Wembanyama was the player with perhaps the most hype since LeBron James in 2003. People expected the world from 'Wemby', who entered the NBA with a height of 2.23 metres and a wingspan of no less than 2.43 metres - figures that had never been seen before.
In France, he was the big man at Paris Metropolitans 92, and one therefore immediately expected a leading role for Wembanyama at the Spurs of legendary coach Gregg Popovich.
The first 100 games have definitely not disappointed. With 2,273 points, the still 20-year-old Wembanyama has scored more after his first hundred games than players like Allen Iverson (2,258), LeBron James (2,181), Tim Duncan (2,105), Kevin Durant (2,060) and Dwyane Wade (1,914). In the last 45 years, only six players, including Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic, reached more points than Wembanyama. Only Zion Williamson (25.7), James (25), Doncic (24.2) and Shaquille O'Neil (24) averaged better than Wembanyama's 22.7 points per game.
His 225 three-pointers were also more than necessary sharpshooters like Klay Thompson (204) and Stephen Curry (200) - a bizarre statistic for a centre of his stature. Only 11 players ever did this better than Wembanyama.
In assists, too, Wembanyama excels for a centre: of all players with a height of at least 2.10 metres, only the legendary Bill Walton (440) and Brad Daugherty (398) recorded more assists in their first 100 duels than Wembanyama, who gave 386 assists so far.
In blocks too, Wembanyama leads an impressive list. His 366 blocks surpass Shaquille O'Neal's 349, Alonzo Mourning's 341, Dikembe Mutombo's 309, Hakeen Olajuwon's 268 and Tim Duncan's 247. Spurs legend David Robinson (383) and the also alien Manute Bol (425) are the only players with more blocks in their first 100 duels.
Finally, Wembanyama has considerably more rebounds than the requisite legends: Andre Drummond (964), Anthony Davis, Karl Malone (both 899), Charles Barkley (864) and Kevin Garnett (677) all don't come close to Wembanyama's 1,053 rebounds. With his averages of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds, 'Wemby' is the first player since Shaquille O'Neal with these figures before his 21st birthday.