The San Antonio Spurs faced off against their old rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, at home. Despite the absence of superstar Kawhi Leonard, the shadow of their first-round matchup remained. The coaching staff relied on excellent teamwork to expand the lead in the first half of the first quarter, but James Harden's sudden outburst helped stabilize the situation for the Clippers. However, the visiting team, playing back-to-back games, experienced fatigue issues, with many open shots failing to convert into points. This allowed the Spurs to execute fast breaks and dazzling ball movement, easily securing 37 assists and laying the groundwork for victory.
Despite Tyronn Lue sending bench-end role players into the game in the middle of the third quarter, Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson had to keep Wembanyama on the court to ensure the win. This change exposed the true potential of the 20-year-old French center. In less than 26 minutes, he scored 27 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, made 1 steal, and recorded 3 blocks, with a +22 plus-minus and a 55% shooting percentage. Such an efficient offensive and defensive performance left opponents in awe.
Over the past eight games, Clippers center Zubac has averaged double-doubles in points and rebounds. However, when matched up against Wembanyama, he set a humiliating record of 5 points and 7 rebounds, reducing his $58 million value to that of a blue-collar worker. While acknowledging the team's poor record, one must also recognize Wembanyama's terrifying and unparalleled natural talent. As a sophomore rookie, he has not yet received many honors but has already garnered high expectations and praise for his performance, which may contain some exaggeration, as statistics are only part of the game. However, the NBA officially confirmed Wembanyama's performance throughout December. The Spurs' rising star scored 315 points, grabbed 111 rebounds, dished out 53 assists, recorded 50 blocks, and made 42 three-pointers. He is the first player in NBA history to achieve at least 300 points, 100 rebounds, 50 assists, and 50 blocks in a single month while also hitting 40 three-pointers.
Wembanyama, often mentioned alongside Chet Holmgren as the "Chopsticks Brothers," has taken a unique path. While Holmgren primarily serves as a rim protector for the Thunder, assisting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their championship pursuit, Wembanyama has forged an unprecedented path. A tall and lanky interior player with incredible flexibility and suppleness, rare in NBA history, he also possesses a developed shooting ability, including long-range three-pointers from the logo area. His average of 25.6 points, 10 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.9 blocks, and 1 steal per game is all genuine talent.
A young and inexperienced player, Wembanyama was groomed by the Spurs in just two seasons to become the face of the league's future. However, the team's poor record prevented him from receiving more accolades. On January 1, 2025, Beijing time, American betting websites listed the odds for the Most Improved Player award this season, with Spurs player Wembanyama among the contenders. Even though his scoring increased by 5 points this season compared to his rookie year, showcasing historical-level performance, he was not the favorite for the award, ranking only ninth. Among the potential frontrunners, Jalen Johnson, Tyler Herro, and Jalen Williams will compete for the final prize.
Based on his new season's performance, the Hawks' forward Johnson deserves recognition. With the management offering a five-year, $150 million contract extension and Schneider devising set plays for him, his rise has alleviated the pressure on Trae Young's offense. His averages of 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block have significantly improved from last season, with his most crucial attribute being his on-court presence, forcing opponents to adjust their defensive strategies. If Jalen Johnson can secure the Most Improved Player award in the regular season finale, the Hawks could skip the rebuilding phase and make a full-blooded comeback, aiming for the playoffs.
