The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year had a rough start, making only 14 three-pointers in his first nine games and shooting just 22.6% from beyond the arc. His performance sparked questions about how the San Antonio Spurs were utilizing their young star. However, over the past few games, Wembanyama has answered those questions in spectacular fashion.
On Saturday, he hit six of nine three-point attempts, scoring 24 points in a win over the Utah Jazz. Two days later, against the Sacramento Kings, he matched that six three-pointer performance on 12 attempts, leading the Spurs to an upset victory. But Wednesday’s game was on another level.
Wembanyama dropped a career-high 50 points in a thrilling 139-130 win against the Washington Wizards, with his shooting from deep once again taking center stage. He went 18-of-29 from the field, including eight-of-16 from three-point range, proving that his early-season shooting woes were a temporary blip.
This 50-point performance marked a historic moment for several reasons. Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points, following in the footsteps of Brandon Jennings, LeBron James, and Devin Booker. His achievement is even more notable considering he is the youngest center to ever score 50 in a game. The previous record holder for a center was Shaquille O’Neal, who was 22 years old when he scored 50. Wembanyama, at just 20 years and 314 days, beat that mark by more than a year.
Additionally, Wembanyama’s performance made him the first player in Spurs history to score 50 points and hit at least five three-pointers in a game. Though it wasn’t a completely unique statistical line (Luka Dončić has done something similar), it was still an impressive feat for the young big man.
Wembanyama also became the tallest player in NBA history to make eight three-pointers in a game, underscoring just how remarkable his performance was. But beyond the history-making stats, the real story here is his improvement in three-point shooting. His percentage had been a concern early in the season, but in his last three games, he’s raised it from 22.6% to 34.3%, just shy of the league average of 36.6%. It’s a small sample size, but it’s enough to show that Wembanyama’s shooting can be a legitimate weapon moving forward.
With his ability to dominate inside already a given, Wembanyama’s newfound proficiency from the perimeter makes him an even more dangerous threat. If his shooting continues to develop, he could become nearly impossible to stop. Wednesday’s 50-point game was a glimpse into just how unstoppable he could be in the future.
