Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s special gesture for fan after missing game due to injury

Victor Wembanyama has quietly taken his game to a new level since becoming the Antonio Spurs’ primary center.

In his last 11 games, the rookie sensation has averaged 19.6, 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and an NBA-high 4.2 blocks per game. He has started all of them at the five point guard position after Gregg Popovich benched veteran big man Zach Collins. Wembanyama’s true shooting % increased by nearly four points to 56.7 over that time, slightly below league average, as a result of improved spacing and more opportunities as a pick-and-roll diving man. His efficiency has also significantly increased during that time.

Wembanyama’s chances of earning Rookie of the Year are probably gone because of the Spurs’ unexpectedly low standing among the poorest teams in the NBA. Chet Holmgren, a fellow first-year standout and future opponent by default, has made the Oklahoma City Thunder a serious title challenger and has emerged as the team’s clear front-runner for that crown.

Wembanyama most likely won’t win Rookie of the Year this season, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t live up to the expectations. Since being switched to centre a few weeks ago, he has been on the verge of dominating, giving rise to an incredibly promising future that will eventually position him to become a San Antonio icon.

Wembanyama has made one Spurs fan for life, though, even before he leads his club to consistent success. How? Not just via the

Attendees of San Antonio’s December 23 road game against the Dallas Mavericks included Twitter user @brayknowball. His mother had given him tickets to the game for Christmas, and he was thrilled about the unique chance to see his favourite player, Wembanyama, play in Dallas.However, Wembanyama injured his ankle during warm-ups, leaving Brayden, a senior in high school in the DFW region, “heartbroken” and ultimately having to sit out at American Airlines. Soon after the game, the French sensation noticed Brayden’s annoyance and sent him a direct message (DM) offering tickets to San Antonio’s next game in Dallas on February 14.

Instead, Brayden drove the five hours to San Antonio to see the Spurs play the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. There, he saw a fantastic game between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama. Milwaukee defeated one of the top frontcourts in the league with a 125-121 victory, but only after Wembanyama scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked five shots.