Victor Wembanyama

Amidst all of the excitement surrounding perhaps the most highly-anticipated NBA rookie season post-2003, Victor Wembanyama, in short time, has already become a man of many nicknames, adjectives, and superlatives. For some, “Wemby” or “The Extraterrestrial” do the trick; for others, perhaps “the future of the NBA” fits the bill more demonstratively. Yet, given the many acts that defined Wembanyama’s 2023-24, perhaps there’s room for one more: “the first player to ever …” Perfectly befitting of a player with a 7-foot-4 frame, an 8-foot wingspan, and a skillset built for every need from one-through-five, Wembanyama’s impact knew no limits in Year One. The immediate accolades included becoming the sixth-ever unanimous Rookie of the Year, the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, and First Team All-Defense selection. Though, across a 71-game showcase unlike anything ever seen, Wembanyama’s reach also allowed for 10-block triple-doubles, rare five-by-five games, and just the league’s second instance of 200 blocks and 100 3-pointers. Evoking comparisons to franchise legends of the past, the San Antonio Spurs’ star unicorn precursored the ensuing decade through 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 3.6 blocks — including an NBA-high 342 combined “stocks” — and 47-33-80 percentages.

Rookie of the Year

Rookie Year

Rookie Mint