LAS VEGAS — The Wembanyama Week festivities have come to a close here amongst the neon signs and freeways, but the story itself is very much beginning. This thing is starting to feel like a real life tall tale, and no, that’s not supposed to be a height-related pun. Eighteen-year-old Victor Wembanyama is not physically here to stay—he’s headed back to France to continue the Pro A season with his club, Metropolitans 92—but with two dazzling showcase games against G League Ignite (and top U.S.-born prospect Scoot Henderson), Wembanyama has arrived for good.
Wembanyama and Henderson showed up for a historic duel Tuesday night that immediately belongs in the annals of basketball history, as the two brought the best out of one another in front of a sea of scouts in a game Ignite narrowly won. Thursday’s tilt tipped at noon local time and unsurprisingly lacked the same energy, compounded by the fact Henderson played just four minutes before knocking knees with Wembanyama on a switch, getting the worst of it, and sitting the rest of the game as a precaution.
Alone at center stage, Wembanyama shone bright a second time, following up Tuesday’s 37-points, seven three-pointers and five blocks with arguably a more complete performance in a comeback win. He finished with 36 points on 11-of-24 shooting and 12 made free throws, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, galvanizing his team with more aggressive defense and play on the glass, to the delight of his coach, Vincent Collet. “That’s one of his characteristics,” Collet said. “He’s doing new things most every day. That’s talent.”
