The San Antonio Spurs came into Saturday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets looking to build some momentum. But while the scoreboard didn’t tilt in their favor early on, Victor Wembanyama made sure fans didn’t leave without a highlight to remember.
Early in the second quarter, Wembanyama delivered one of those jaw-dropping moments that only he seems capable of producing. After rolling to the basket, he caught an alley-oop from Dylan Harper-while facing away from the rim-and somehow twisted midair to hammer home a poster dunk right over Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel.
It was the kind of play that reminds you why Wemby is already must-see TV, even this early in his career. His ability to contort his body mid-flight and finish with authority is something we rarely see, and he’s doing it with regularity.
By halftime, Wembanyama had logged just over 16 minutes, posting six points, one rebound, and one assist. Modest numbers on paper, sure-but the impact goes beyond the box score. Plays like that alley-oop dunk energize a team, shift momentum, and keep opposing defenses on edge.
And make no mistake: Wembanyama’s growing presence is a major reason San Antonio is sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings, currently holding the No. 2 seed. That’s not a typo. The Spurs, a team many expected to still be in rebuilding mode, have been one of the league’s best stories this season-and Wemby is right at the center of it.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama is proving why he was billed as a generational talent. He recently earned his second All-Star selection and will suit up for the World Team under the league’s revamped All-Star Game format. It’s rare for a player this young to already be a fixture in that kind of spotlight, but Wemby has made it look natural.
Earlier this season, Wembanyama dealt with a calf injury that temporarily moved him to a bench role. But since returning to the starting lineup, he’s been back to his dominant self.
Through 33 games, he’s averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. And he’s doing it with efficiency: shooting 50.6% from the field, 37% from beyond the arc, and 83% from the free-throw line.
Those numbers aren’t just strong-they’re elite. Especially for a 7-foot-4 big man who’s still learning the NBA game. He’s protecting the rim, spacing the floor, creating offense, and doing it all with a fluidity that’s almost unfair given his size.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA OVER KON KNUEPPEL 😱pic.twitter.com/NrGxxrzDQG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 31, 2026
The Spurs may not have gotten the result they wanted against Charlotte, but with Wembanyama continuing to evolve, this team’s ceiling keeps rising. He’s not just developing-he’s accelerating. And if this is what he looks like in year two, the rest of the league better buckle up.