Nothing is too big for Victor Wembanyama, dazzling and record-breaking in his NBA playoffs debut

Neither the weight of history nor the enormous expectations placed upon him seemed to bother Victor Wembanyama in the slightest this Sunday. The French prodigy for the San Antonio Spurs debuted at 22 years old in the playoffs and did so with flying colors, seemingly immune to the pressure and unmistakable atmosphere of the NBA finals: 35 points in 33 minutes of play, not a single basket conceded to an opponent in one-on-one defense, and a resounding 111-98 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, who were unable to stop him in the game that closed the opening day of the first round.

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At this point, it’s impossible not to look back and remember those Tim Duncan and David Robinson Spurs, who in 1999 won the first championship ring in the history of the Texan franchise. The center from the Virgin Islands, also 22 years old at the time, debuted in those playoffs with 32 points, a record figure that Wemby now improves under the watchful eyes of both. “When the cameras focused on them, I heard the stands. It was brutal. Seeing those two courtside and the recognition they receive from the fans is impressive, very beautiful,” reflected the new flagship and natural heir to Timmy.

Everything and more is expected from Wembanyama in the next two decades: the league treated him as a cover star from day one, and everyone in the franchise remembers that Duncan’s 19-season journey, a number one draft pick like him, resulted in five championships. Regarding the eternal comparisons, the 2.24-meter Frenchman with an alien silhouette tries to focus on the positive aspects. “I don’t feel any pressure, quite the opposite, I feel very confident,” he emphasized after having received visits and advice from all the franchise idols over the past week. “If you stumble, there are many hands ready to prevent your fall. And that’s how supported I’ve felt since day one,” he added, also recalling the presence of his former coach Gregg Popovich and another icon like Manu Ginobili in the training session prior to his first big performance in the United States.

“I am as prepared as one can be. We work for this all year, really throughout our entire career,” the center reflected on the eve of the dazzling debut. In his third season, and after overcoming the health problems that cut short his projection last year, the youngster has been able to place the franchise on the short list of title contenders with exemplary leadership and averages of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Enough to be one of the three MVP finalists alongside the last winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and three-time winner Nikola Jokic. Also the top favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award: a significant achievement for a third-year player.

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“We played very well during the regular season, so we have no reason to act differently or play differently,” Wemby analyzed after the first victory of the 16 needed to win the title. The Spurs had not been in the playoffs since 2018, and this season they aimed to pass simply by qualifying. The team’s performance and qualification, however, have skyrocketed expectations and goals. With 62 wins and 20 losses, from the second spot in the wild West, San Antonio has been the only franchise capable of convincingly defeating the reigning champions and league leaders, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost four of their five matchups against the Texans.

“No one walks the path alone,” Wembanyama noted about the keys to the group’s success. The Frenchman fosters a very good off-court relationship with his teammates to improve on-court results. He relies, for example, on veterans like Kelly Olynyk, who gifted all his teammates custom-made suits to dress in black tie upon their arrival at the arena. On the court, the leadership of De’Aaron Fox and his 10 seasons of experience in the competition stand out, as do the audacity of Stephon Castle and Devin Vasell in the perimeter game. The contributions of forward Keldon Johnson and rookie point guard Dylan Harper from the bench complete the balance of a group led by former player Mitch Johnson, Popovich’s successor after the legendary coach’s stroke last year.

“I think he was ready. Victor has a real desire to participate at this high level of preparation, details, nuances, competitiveness, and physical tone. It was his first playoff game, but he has much more ambitious expectations and goals for himself,” his coach concluded after seeing how he frustrated the opponent. Tiago Splitter, the Blazers’ coach, put up to eight different players to defend Wemby, but none could stop him from scoring his 35 points on 13 of 21 shooting from the field and five of six from three-point range. On the other side, the 11 shots that attackers attempted against the Frenchman’s direct opposition ended up hitting iron.

The first day of the playoffs was very favorable for the home teams. All won except the Detroit Pistons, who were seeded in the East and surprised by the Orlando Magic, who defeated them in front of their home crowd by 101-112. Paolo Banchero, with 23 points, led the Floridians’ collective effort, with all five starters in double digits. For the home team, Cade Cunningham’s 39 points in 40 minutes were not enough. The Thunder, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavaliers, and Knicks won their respective games comfortably, and only the Lakers struggled a bit more to defeat the Rockets without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves but with LeBron James, as the Rockets felt the absence of Kevin Durant (107-98).

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