Victor Wembanyama
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Victor Wembanyama has starred when coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs this season.
TheSan Antonio Spurs’Victor Wembanyama has battled injuries recently, but that hasn’t stopped him from maximizing his time on the court.
“The Alien” made some history on a minutes restriction in his first game back from a knee injury against theMemphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, January 6, scoring 30 points in just 21 minutes. Only two other players in franchise history have scored 30 or more points in less than 22 minutes.
Wembanyama was incredibly efficient in the 106-105 loss,going 10-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal, stuffing the stat sheet like he has all season long.
Victor Wembanyama Joins Spurs Legend David Robinson
San Antonio has had multiple hall-of-fame big men throughout its franchise history, and Wembanyama joined one of them with his performance on Tuesday.
David Robinson put up 31 points in 21 minutes in a game against the Grizzlies (who were in Vancouver at that time) in November 1995. “The Admiral” went 13-of-19 from the field and had eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a 111-62 win.
The other player to excel for the Spurs in limited game action?Sandro Mamukelashviliin March 2025. The forward scored34 points in just 19 minutes against theNew York Knicks, going an incredible 13-of-14 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the 3-point line. He also pulled in nine rebounds and dished out three assists in the 120-105 win.
Victor Wembanyama Is Starring Off The Bench
In his return from a calf injury in the NBA Cup semifinals against theOklahoma City Thunder on December 13, Wembanyama had 22 points, nine rebounds and 2 assists in 21 minutes of action off the bench, helping his team hand the defending NBA champions just their second loss of the season.
Since that game, Wembanyama has been the first man off the bench for San Antonio, and the Spurs have been better off for it. The team is 7-1 this season when the center plays in a reserve role (its one loss was in the NBA Cup Final to the Knicks, which does not count in the standings).
Wemby’s versatility has allowed head coach Mitch Johnson to work him back into San Antonio’s rotation gradually and preserve him throughout the course of games. He will probably return to the starting lineup soon, but the Spurs are relying on him to be the best sixth man in the NBA for the time being.