Victor Wembanyama drops 50-20, says he can still do more

Victor Wembanyama did his best Wilt Chamberlain impression on Wednesday night.

The San Antonio Spurs phenom went for 52 points and 24 rebounds, both career highs, along with eight blocks to lead the Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 112-111.

It was a one-point win.

Wembanyama is the first player to reach 50 points and 20 rebounds in a one-point victory since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1964.

He is just the ninth player in NBA history with a 50-20 performance.

The last was Luka Doncic in 2022.

He is just the third player to do it with five blocks, joining Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo.

In the first half alone, Wembanyama had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.

That made him the first player since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in 1996-97 with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half.

And amazingly enough, Wembanyama believes he can “still do more.”

“I mean, my shots weren’t falling tonight and that forces me into a style of play that is exhausting,” he said.

“I can do it. I mean the proof is here. I can do it, but I can be much better if my shots fall. I know it’s just a matter of time.”

The 7-foot-4 center from France was 16 for 28 from the field, including seven dunks.

He was 1 for 8 on 3-pointers.

He missed his first three free throws in the final 2:10.

But he made one with 24 seconds left for the final margin of victory.

He had two putbacks in the final 2:39.

The Spurs have won six straight and swept a three-game homestand.

San Antonio has not lost since dropping the season’s first two games to Oklahoma City and Houston.

Wembanyama has averaged 32.5 points during the streak despite being under the weather with a virus.

“I haven’t been feeling great lately,” Wembanyama said.

“I’ve been sick for a while, and today I felt like I got my legs back. So it should be more like this, more often.”

His 29.0 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game this season are all career-highs.

Dylan Harper, the Rutgers freshman and projected top NBA draft pick, backed the historic comparison.