San Antonio Spurs French center Victor Wembanyama, 20, surpassed former Russian NBA forward Andrei Kirilenko's feat. Wembanyama became the youngest player in league history to record a five-by-five performance.
A five-by-five is a basketball statistic where a player accumulates at least five in five different statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks—in a single game. This rare feat is considered the mark of an elite two-way player who can impact the game in multiple ways.
Wembanyama reached the milestone in a recent game against the Golden State Warriors, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks. At just 20 years old, he is the youngest player to accomplish this impressive statistical feat in an NBA game.
The previous record holder, Andrei Kirilenko, was 23 when he recorded his five-by-five in 2003 as a member of the Utah Jazz. Wembanyama has now surpassed Kirilenko's mark by nearly three full years, underscoring the prodigious talent and versatile skillset of the young Spurs phenom.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was understandably thrilled with Wembanyama's historic performance. "What Victor was able to accomplish tonight is truly special. To have that kind of impact on both ends of the floor at his age is just remarkable. He's already showing his ability to dominate games in a variety of ways.
Popovich went on to praise Wembanyama's relentless motor and elite defensive instincts. "The way he can disrupt an offense with his length and anticipation is special. But what really stands out is his intensity and effort on every possession. Victor leaves it all on the court, and that's a big reason why he's able to fill up the stat sheet the way he does."
Warriors star Stephen Curry, who faced Wembanyama earlier in the season, echoed Popovich's sentiments. "Victor is a unicorn, period. The combination of size, skill and two-way impact that he has is unheard of, especially for someone so young. He's going to continue to redefine what's possible at the center position in this league."
Veteran Spurs fullback Devin Vassell, Wembanyama's teammate, also marvelled at the rookie's rapid development. "It's crazy to think he's only 20 years old. The poise, the instincts, the ability to impact the game in so many ways - it's all so advanced for his age. Victor is going to continue to break records and make history as his career progresses."
As Wembanyama cements his status as one of the NBA's most unique and dominant young talents, the basketball world is eagerly awaiting the next steps he will take. With his rare combination of size, skill and two-way impact, the sky truly seems to be the limit for the cornerstone of the Spurs franchise.
