The NBA on Monday named San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year — becoming the third Spur to take the title after David Robinson in 1990 and Tim Duncan in 1998.
With 99 first-place votes, 20-year-old Wembanyama became the sixth unanimous Rookie of the Year in NBA history.
Wembanyama’s impressive 71 games averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, under 3.58 blocks, and 1.24 steals in 29.7 minutes set him above all rookies in scoring, rebounds and blocks per game, according to the NBA.
He’s the first rookie in NBA history to have a triple-double involving blocks and another involving assists in the same season, and the second rookie (after Manute Bol in 1985-86) to lead the league in blocks, ending with 254.
Wembanyama is also the youngest player in NBA history to record a 20/20 game: 20 points, 20 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in Chicago on December 8; is the youngest to register a 5×5 game: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks at LA Lakers on Feb. 23, and is the youngest to post a 40/20 game: 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists vs. New York on March 29, the NBA said.
In an interview on “Inside the NBA” on TNT, Wembanyama looked back on his rookie season, and looked to the future to talk about things he’s working to improve on the court.
His goal as the year went on was to help his team the best he could, but to do that, Wembanyama said he understood he needed to perform well “individually and [be] dominant.”
Over the season, his stats got better, he said. But personally, Wembanyama said he was proud of his playmaking, shot selection and improvements in cardio to play more than 35 minutes.
“[Rookie of the Year] was a huge thing for me and a big thing to get, so it’s always been really important and I’m glad it’s finally official,” he said.
But “the work is never going to be done,” he said. The Spurs ended the season with an overall 22-60 record. This summer, Wembanyama will continue discovering new ways to improve.
“There’s a lot [Coach Gregg Popovich] wants me to work on and the coaches, so I’m excited,” he said. “I’m working on my balance and the use of my strength [and] learning to know my body better in the space,” he said.
