NBA: Wembanyama unanimously rookie of the year, a title that calls for (many) others

“The title of rookie of the year is a goal, of course.” Victor Wembanyama is not the type to hide or act shy when talking about his ambitions. He is right. And this objective was achieved. Author of an exceptional season, season completed with 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks (1st in the NBA) and 1.2 interceptions (71 matches), one of the best in the history of the NBA for a first-year player, the French prodigy from San Antonio inherited the title of rookie of the year on Monday. A first for a Spur since Tim Duncan in 1998. A first for a Frenchman. So far, only Boris Diaw (MIP in 2006), Tony Parker (2007 Finals MVP), Joakim Noah (defender of the year in 2014) and Rudy Gobert (defender of the year in 2018, 2019 and 2021) had won an individual award, not to mention the All Star Game or the five All-NBA.

Third European to inherit this award after the Spaniard Pau Gasol (2002) and the Slovenian Luka Doncic (2019), and successor to Paolo Banchero (Orlando) on the list, “Wemby” invites himself into this closed club of French winners of an individual trophy in the NBA, he who was at one time in the balance with Chet Holgren (OKC). A time only. After San Antonio's victory in Oklahoma City (118-132), with 28 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks from the "Frenchy", at the end of February, there was already no more suspense.

And this despite the record of Spurs (22v-60d), penultimate in the West. “A successful season would be a season where we would even get closer than 1% to the final goal, which is to win a title,” said the former player of Nanterre, Asvel and Boulogne-Levallois at the start of the campaign. . A certain number of seasons will still pass before imagining a return of the Larry O'Brien trophy to “Alamo City”, that is quite clear. Playing the title takes time. But the Spurs have progressed throughout the season, that’s undeniable. And that’s already it. There is a future in San Antonio, which has everything to succeed.

And Wembanyama largely met expectations, even if the main person concerned, a perfectionist, sees things differently. “That may be the case, but that's not how I feel because I'm always trying, every day, to push harder and do more, achieve more goals, more records, more victories. But the next day, I always tell myself that I didn't do enough to push myself even more. So, my first impression is that I did not exceed any expectations, that I should have done more,” he insisted before the announcement of his award on Monday, via The Athletic. And yet... The title of rookie of the year was expected from the start, even if Holmgren represented a threat. However, we did not imagine that the French Alien would be so consistent, physically strong, that he would finish first in blocks (254), that he would equal so many records. Bluffing. The list of his accomplishments would be too tedious to list here. Note that he was unanimously named rookie of the year, a first since Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota) during the 2015-16 season. There was no photo.

“I think it would be very difficult for anyone to live up to the expectations that the league and the fans have placed on him. I think every night we saw something different that we had never seen before. Between my years as a player, coach and manager, I watched 50 years of basketball and every night I saw something from Wemby that I had never seen before,” relishes RC Buford, happy CEO of the Texan franchise, also for The Athletic, further highlighting the work ethic of its prodigy, number 1 in the 2023 Draft: “The time he devoted to developing himself and maintaining that of his teammates was incredible ".

And that's just the beginning. We are inevitably curious to see what the Spurs will achieve during the off-season, while Victor Wembanyama, 20, will be busy aiming for Olympus with the Blues (July 27-August 11). After the title of rookie of the year and the title of best blocker of the season, what individual trophies are in “Wemby’s” sights? The French giant (2.24m) is one of the three finalists for the best defender trophy, with Bam Adebayo (Miami) and Rudy Gobert (Minnesota). Except that there is only slightly less suspense than for the “Rookie of the year”. “Rudy has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved,” the native of Chesnay recently declared, having little illusion. And added: “Let him win it now, because afterward it will no longer be his turn…” At least as impressive defensively as offensively, Wembanyama is indeed expected to make a raid in the coming years. It's certain. San Antonio should still be a little less permeable...

Continuing on the same momentum, or even better, Victor Wembanyama will undoubtedly not be far from a first selection for the All Star Game next season. Why not MIP (best progression)? Before that, the All-NBA five list for the 2023-24 season will be revealed in the coming weeks. With the French? Not impossible, and it would be quite an honor. Joining one of the three All-NBA fives as a rookie has only happened four times since the 80s, Larry Bird (1980, 1st five) and Michael Jordan (1985, 2nd), then two former Spurs, David Robinson (1990, 3rd) and Tim Duncan (1998, 1st). “Wemby” can also claim a place in one of the defensive five, and he will certainly be in the first five of the rookies. As for the rest, the sky's the limit: Within a few years, Wembanyama will be a consistent MVP contender. One thing is certain: this is only the beginning for Victor Wembanyama. The future belongs to him. The NBA, soon, too?