Spurs star Victor Wembanyama entered Wednesday shooting 84.6 percent on shots within three feet of the basket this season. Chris Coduto / Getty Images
Playing in Los Angeles for the first time this season, Victor Wembanyama found one of the glitziest ways possible to put himself in the spotlight — at least with the options he had at his disposal.
With Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the back half of Wednesday’s national TV doubleheader on ESPN, the 21-year-old phenom put Lakers guard Bronny James on a poster in the second quarter. After pump-faking Lakers forward Rui Hachimura out of the frame, the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama drove hard at the rim, rising to dunk. James, with his father, LeBron James, still out of the lineup with sciatica, got airborne to contest the shot before seemingly realizing mid-air that was folly.
Earlier in the game, ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson referred to Wembanyama’s two-handed reverse windmill dunk against the Dallas Mavericks on opening night as the greatest highlight he had ever seen. Alas, Wembanyama was limited to just 16 minutes in the opening half against the Lakers, as he picked up his third foul with 8:39 left in the second quarter.
Wembanyama entered the game averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and a league-leading 4.7 blocks. However, the Spurs were coming off their first loss this season on Sunday in Phoenix, where Wembanyama had just nine points, nine rebounds and six blocks. That broke his streak of five consecutive double-doubles to start the season.
Nov 14, 2025
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