Is Victor Wembanyama playing tonight against OKC Thunder? Latest on Spurs star's status (Oct. 30)
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Oklahoma on Wednesday to face the OKC Thunder, with Victor Wembanyama set to suit up for the Spurs. The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year is healthy and has featured in all three of the Spurs' regular season games.
Wembanyama is set to play a major role his season for a San Antonio team that utilized the big man cautiously last season. The French center played 71 games and averaged 29.7 minutes per game. This season, that number has jumped to 31.3 mpg.
In the opening game of the season, Wembanyama played 28 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks and followed up with 30 minutes against in-state rivals Houston Rockets.
The Spurs are coming off a closely contested 106-101 loss to the Rockets on Monday. Victor Wembanyama played a team-high 35 minutes and recorded 14 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. The fact that Wembanyama had a day between games to rest and a short travel in between is a positive for San Antonio.
This is a highly anticipated matchup between two of the Western Conference's top teams. Oklahoma City ranked first in the West last season with a 57-25 record, and went all the way to the conference semifinals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
Mark Daigneault's team have started the year with a perfect 3-0 record and will look to maintain their hot streak against the Spurs.
After a disappointing 22-60 record last season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich added veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes to the roster. Drafting UConn's Stephon Castle in the first round of the draft is also looking like a astute move from an organization that needed support at the guard position.
The Spurs are 1-2 on the season with upcoming games against the OKC Thunder, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Victor Wembanyama has led the NBA in blocks this season
Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous first pick at the 2023 NBA Draft, and there was plenty of interest in the 7-foot-4 center who's regarded as a generational talent. The Spurs big man hit the ground running last season and impressed during his rookie year.
Wembanyama led the league in blocks per game with 3.6, an incredible 1.2 bpg more than second-placed Walker Kessler. He also ranked eighth in the league in rebounds per game, with 10.6.
After an impressive first year where he exceeded expectations, Wembanyama was named the Rookie of the Year and selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Where to watch San Antonio Spurs vs OKC Thunder
The OKC Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs at the Paycom Center on Wednesday with the game set to tip off at 9:30 p.m. EST.
The game will be available nationally on ESPN and locally on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma and FanDuel Sports Network Southwest. Fans can also stream the game on NBA League Pass or fuboTV.