Victor Wembanyama (21, San Antonio) summoned ancient monsters.
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the home team and No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime in Game 1 of the 2025-26 NBA playoff Western Conference final held at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on the 19th (Korea time).
The star of the game was unquestionably Wembanyama. He played about 49 minutes and recorded 41 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. His field goal percentage was 56% and his free throw percentage was 92.3%. It was a dominant performance that controlled both offense and defense.
His dominance on the boards was especially remarkable. Wembanyama grabbed 24 rebounds by himself. That number was greater than the combined 23 rebounds of the Thunder's five starters — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
Wembanyama set another major record. At 22 years, 134 days old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to record 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game. The previous record was 22 years, 352 days, held by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Wembanyama beat that mark by more than 200 days.
He also set a new record as the youngest player to record at least 35 points and 20 rebounds in a conference final.
The game was significant in the context of NBA history as well. Wembanyama became the fourth player ever to record 40 points and 20 rebounds in a conference final. Until now, only Moses Malone, Charles Barkley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had achieved the feat.
Wembanyama is the first player since Charles Barkley in 1993 to record 35 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game. Also, since 2000, he is the fourth player to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, following Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Nikola Jokić.
The 21-year-old young monster is summoning ancient beasts and entering the realm of legends. All eyes will be on whether back-to-back MVP Gilgeous-Alexander can strike back in Game 2.
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