SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama needed less than one night to etch his name beside San Antonio’s championship icons. In his first postseason appearance, the 22-year-old French center delivered 35 points, five rebounds and two blocks Sunday, powering the Spurs past the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series at Frost Bank Arena.
The victory ended the franchise’s seven-year playoff absence and arrived amid Fiesta Week pageantry: every seat held a pink, orange or teal T-shirt, and arena cameras shamed anyone who refused to wear one. When Wembanyama trotted out in matching orange size-20½ sneakers for warm-ups, the focus shifted from T-shirts to towering expectations.
A record that outshined Duncan’s debut
Wembanyama’s scoring total eclipsed Tim Duncan’s previous club mark for points in a playoff debut. Portland missed all 11 field-goal attempts when he was the primary defender, underscoring why he collected his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award the following night.
A coast-to-coast highlight
The signature moment came 6½ minutes into the contest. After rebounding a Deni Avdija miss, Wembanyama sprinted the length of the floor, dribbled behind his back, spun past a defender and hammered a dunk that left Hall of Famers Duncan and David Robinson—watching from the 10th row—clapping in disbelief. Teammate Luke Kornet called the play “something we’d never seen before,” even though Wembanyama rehearses similar sequences daily against development coaches Jon Harris and Curtis Lewis.
Comparisons to LeBron’s first playoff game
Only 12 other players have scored at least 35 points in their postseason debuts. LeBron James posted 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his first playoff outing 20 years ago; like James, Wembanyama reached the postseason in his third season and at the same age.
Early jitters, quick recovery
Portland veteran guard Jrue Holiday introduced playoff physicality on the opening possession, knocking Wembanyama to the floor. “Everybody has jitters, but they lasted maybe 30 seconds for him,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said. Moments later, the rookie sensation steadied himself by locking in defensively, triggering the transition offense head coach Mitch Johnson favors. “Our defense into our offense is our best offense,” Johnson explained.
Spurs culture on full display
Gregg Popovich, who retired last year, watched from a suite with former assistant Brett Brown and met individually with players during Monday’s practice. Fellow franchise legends Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott joined Duncan and Robinson in the stands, reinforcing the multigenerational support that defines the organization.
After the final buzzer, Wembanyama gathered teammates at midcourt to choose the night’s “drum beater,” a postgame ritual in partnership with the Jackals fan club that he imported from his favorite soccer team, Paris Saint-Germain. Sixth-year forward Devin Vassell—whose 15 points and two blocks fueled a third-quarter surge—earned the honor while the franchise greats slipped out quietly.
Reflecting on the presence of Duncan and Robinson, Wembanyama said, “It was the loudest the fans got all game.” Asked about the pressure of carrying the Spurs’ lineage, he offered, “It doesn’t feel heavy; it feels safe. If you trip, there are plenty of hands ready to catch you.”
Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio, where Fiesta colors will again cover every seat—and where Wembanyama’s postseason story now has its first unforgettable chapter.
Source: ESPN.com
