Vembanyama's historic new season continues with the 1st stop in Toronto

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Normally a game between two teams that have combined for 29 wins and 75 losses so far this season would be a must-see, but Monday's tilt is an exception.

That's because the San Antonio Spurs are coming to Toronto for the only time this season, which means basketball fans in Canada will get an up-close look at Victor Wembanyama during his record-breaking rookie season. Wembanyama, who turned just 20 last month, is averaging 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per game in 47 appearances, along with 3.1 assists, 81 percent shooting from the free throw line and an NBA-best three blocks a night.

The most exciting prospect in sports since LeBron James, and then until now.

Far from being a close-knit 7-foot-4, the Frenchman tried his best to remain humble and focused. He's been missing most nights on a team that's experimented at point guard instead of starting a true floor general until recently, and he's been able to improve since his first season. Wembanyama has been ridiculous in January, averaging 24 points per game on 51% shooting and taking control of the Rookie of the Year race from the Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive Chet Holmgren.

Although he dipped a bit in five games in February, Wembanyama was able to increase his three-point shooting percentage to 45.5% from the 30% he averaged between October and January. Even if he becomes a consistent 38% outside shooter, Wembanyama will be one of the most dangerous offensive players in the entire league.

He immediately became one of the main defenders. He also has the chance to join 11 other rookies who have averaged 20 and 10 since Larry Bird in 1979-80 (he would be the third Spurs player to do so. The franchise has had incredible luck landing top picks. David Robinson, Tim when Duncan and Wembanyama). The man known as Wemby would become the youngest rookie to post those averages.

There's no guarantee he'll join that company, but the length of the NBA season seems to be a little too long for Vembanyama, as San Antonio has lost seven in a row.

Vembanyama was remarkably quiet in the first half of Saturday's loss in Brooklyn, failing to record a single rebound, assist, block or steal. He finished with just four rebounds two days after his amazing one-game hitting streak against the Orlando Magic. Five total goals in 52 minutes is a staggering total for the tallest player in the NBA (along with Boban Marjanovic), but Wembanyama deserves a pass because he has exceeded all expectations so far and it's worth noting that he has 13, 14 and 14 rebounds. in three games before these last two.

“I see signs of it from everybody, but it's basically the same for every team,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters in Brooklyn. “These are the dog days and tough. I wanted to see how we would do on the road on this trip. I think it's three (games) in four nights on the fourth weekend, and it's tough with the rodeo road trip… They've got to try to deal with it. We're having a little bit of a tough time getting through that.”

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Vembanyama told Tom Orsborne

San Antonio Express News

: “All of our bodies are affected, so yes, even if we don't feel (great), we're getting through it by putting in the extra effort.

“We're going to jump a little higher and we're going to run a little faster than we did at the beginning of the season, for sure.”

Even Vembanyama's 80% is better than most of its rivals. It's not normal for a new player to be as impressive as he used to be. He's the youngest player to record 20 points, 20 rebounds, the second-youngest player to record a triple-double, and at Wembanyama, his versatility has recorded more blocks in his first 31 games than defensive legends like Dikembe Mutombo and Duncan. – More marks than all-time Gunners like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Wembanyama is a one man show. One of the Raptors should find out on Monday night. Hopefully the game will be as memorable as the game in San Antonio in November. Vembanyama scored 20 points in the game, but Toronto rallied from a 22-point deficit to win in overtime.

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