In his highly anticipated NBA debut following an impressive showing for France in the Olympic gold medal game, Victor Wembanyama faced a challenging start with the San Antonio Spurs in their 120-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year, tallied 17 points, 9 rebounds, and four turnovers on 5-of-18 shooting in 28 minutes. His 27.8% field goal percentage against Dallas marks the lowest of his career, underscoring a difficult shooting night as the Mavs’ defense centered around containing him inside the three-point line.
Dallas’ defensive game plan forced Wembanyama to work through double teams and limited his access to the rim, highlighting the intensity of opening the season against the Western Conference champs. The absence of Devin Vassell—last season’s second-leading scorer for the Spurs—added to the challenge. Vassell, out due to a foot injury, averaged 19.5 points per game last season and shot a robust 37.2% from three, leaving a notable gap in the Spurs’ offense. Without Vassell, San Antonio managed 12-of-36 from beyond the arc in the season opener.
Despite the tough night, Wembanyama’s potential remains undeniable. As he adjusts to the NBA’s physicality, bigger games are certainly ahead for the young star, who looks poised to make a significant impact in the 2024-25 season.
