Wembanyama matches Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary feat

Victor Wembanyama did something only Wilt Chamberlain has done before.

The San Antonio Spurs center put up 52 points, 24 rebounds, and 8 blocks in a 112-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

That stat line — 50-plus points, 20-plus rebounds, and 8-plus blocks in a single game — had not been recorded in the NBA since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1961.

It was also the first stat line of its kind since Bob McAdoo in 1974.

Wembanyama shot 16-of-28 from the field and 19-of-23 from the free-throw line.

He added 2 assists and 2 steals while committing just 1 turnover.

He made the game-winning free throw to give the Spurs the lead.

The victory pushed San Antonio to a 6-2 record.

The Spurs have now won six straight games after losing their first two of the season.

Wembanyama's 52 points vaulted his season scoring average to 29 points per game, ranking fourth in the NBA entering Thursday.

In Yahoo High Score fantasy basketball, he scored 110 points — tied for the most in the format ever.

That tied Bam Adebayo's 83-point game from last season against the Wizards.

But the real story is the company Wembanyama now keeps.

His teammate Dylan Harper said after the game: "He basically Wilt."

Harper also chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting.

The game also featured a marquee matchup between Wembanyama and 19-year-old Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks.

Flagg, whom many project as a future face of the league, finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

But he shot 7-of-19 from the field and 0-of-3 from three-point range, starting the game 1-of-11.

Wembanyama blocked Flagg twice and scored an and-1 over him in key moments.

What made Wembanyama's defensive performance especially notable was his technique.

He has developed a method of hanging on an opponent's hip and waiting for them to rise for their shot before he jumps.

This ensures the shooter's attempt is not altered by a simultaneous jump.

Wembanyama knows he can easily match them at the point of release because of his length.

This technique led to a majority of his 8 blocks on Wednesday.

Wednesday night was filled with other historic performances across the NBA.

Nikola Jokic recorded a 30-point triple-double, his 90th in just three quarters, setting an all-time record.

Luka Doncic poured in another 40-point outing to surpass Michael Jordan for the best scoring start to a season.

Klay Thompson scored 30 points with eight threes and a game-winner.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went over 40 points again against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

None of them managed to steal the night from Wembanyama.

The Mavericks entered the game without their full roster, and Wembanyama's performance exposed exactly who they were missing on defense.

Wembanyama's 8 blocks altered Dallas's entire approach around the rim.

The Spurs' win marked a statement early in the season.