San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama's performance shone in the Spurs' latest victory, which may just set the tone for Defensive Player of the Year discussions. In a win that snapped a five-game losing streak against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama scored 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. He is now the first player in NBA history to rack up a stat line with at least ten rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and five 3-pointers in a single game, according to FOX San Antonio.
The Spurs' return to the Frost Bank Center was a welcome one as Wembanyama's outburst and Devin Vassell's 28-point contribution lifted them to a 132-118 victory over the Thunder. Notably, Wembanyama's presence was felt on both ends of the floor with seven assists and five blocks. "It's a lot of mental," Wembanyama said, "You know Kobe (Bryant, the late Los Angeles Lakers star) said to win a game, it mostly takes shots, big shots, because they don't call like any fouls. It's not as much the physical battle. Even though in defense it's 90 percent effort, but offensively it's a lot of mental," he added, in a statement obtained by FOX San Antonio.
Devin Vassell's performance fuels the question of his trade status amid the Spurs' rebuild effort. On the latest episode of Locked On Spurs, Jeff Garcia and KENS 5's Vinne Vinzetta discussed San Antonio's victory and the potential that Vassell has become an un-tradeable asset, as noted by KENS 5.
The Spurs, despite a challenging season, showed formidable tenacity against a Thunder team that sits near the top of the Western Conference standings. San Antonio point guard Tre Jones encapsulated the sentiment around Wembanyama's raw energy and its impact: "I think just let him be him," said Jones, "We don't want to change that. Look where it's gotten him, to this point," in an interview with FOX San Antonio.
As to whether Wembanyama will clinch the Defensive Player of the Year Award, it remains to be seen. However, his recent performances certainly stoke the fires of debate. Meanwhile, with Vassell's rising stock, the Spurs may just be holding onto a budding star who's becoming too valuable to let go, as suggested by the discussions on Locked On Spurs.
