Victor Wembanyama took his supernatural talent to new heights on Thursday as he faced 2023 NBA draft rival Scoot Henderson for the second straight season this week, scoring over 30 points in a row.
The predicted No. 1 in the draft next year put on another dominant performance against the G-League Ignite in Las Vegas, recording 36 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks — all in about 37 minutes of action.
The French club and their 7ft 4 phenom continued to win the game 112-105, although 18-year-old Henderson left the floor in the first half with a knee injury after injuring himself in a collision with Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama, who is 7-foot-4, had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists on Thursday
Next year’s No. 1 draft NBA totaled 73 points in 2 games against G-League Ignite
He did not return to the G-League development team for the second half.
But that didn’t stop Wembanyama from being +26 on the floor in a rematch win after the 19-year-old and his teammates lost to Ignite by seven points (122-15) on Tuesday. In that game, the 18-year-old scored 37 points, including 7-11 from behind (11-20 FG).
France’s top basketball player will now return to his home country to play in the French Basketball League (LNB Pro A) with the Metropolitans’ next competitive game on October 15 against Le Mans.
Ahead of the second and final duel between next year’s top two draft picks, NBA icon Lebron described James Wembanyama as a “generational talent” after seeing the teenager in person in Game 1 in Sin City on Tuesday.
“Everybody’s talking about this unicorn thing, everybody’s been a unicorn the last few years,” James said after his LA Lakers suffered a 119-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns. “But he’s more like an alien.”
Wembanyama has been likened to an alien by LeBron James because of his supernatural size and abilities
Victor Wembanyama alongside 6-foot-2 Scoot Henderson (right), another elite NBA prospect
The title “unicorn” has been thrown around in NBA circles in recent years to describe any player over six feet tall who can dribble and shoot like a guard. Washington Wizards 7-foot-3 center Kristaps Porzingis is among the most notable bearers of the moniker, but years of injury and his shooting battles have all but ended that conversation.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, seemed to have no trouble hitting 3 points or anything else in either matchup, as he totaled 73 points in consecutive games this week.
“Obviously it’s an honor to see such great people talking about me like that, but it doesn’t change anything. […] I haven’t done anything yet. I haven’t played a game in the NBA yet. I wasn’t drafted. I have to stay focused,” said the French power forward, who can also play in the middle, in response to James’ comments.
Wembanyama showed his dazzling array of skills in the second duel between him and Henderson, who left Thursday’s game with a knee injury and 0 points
Minnesota Timberwolves French center Rudy Gobert greets Wembanyama after the game
Wembanyama’s performances on Tuesday and Thursday only cemented his status as the likely first pick of the 2023 draft, leading some to question whether he should be sidelined for the remainder of the French season to avoid injuries ahead of next summer’s draft.
However, his agent told ESPN that “Wemby” would not do such a thing.
“NBA people are telling me to shut it down and we’re not going to shut it down,” player agent Bouna Ndiaye told ESPN on Wednesday. “If we would come up with that kind of talk [Wembanyama], he’ll look at us and say, ‘What are you talking about?’ He will never agree to that. He wants to compete and get better. Victor puts basketball first and everything else second. He was so mad he lost.’
Henderson, meanwhile, scored 28 points in Game 1 before walking off injured in the first quarter in Game 2 on Thursday.
The severity of his injury is not yet known as only time will tell if he will be back for Friday’s next G-League Ignite game against the Oklahoma City Blue.