San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama went viral on Tuesday following a record-breaking first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. During the opening frame, Wembanyama put up 25 points on 8-for-9 shooting (88.9%) from the floor.
However, the Spurs standout ultimately didn’t come close to topping his single-game scoring career-high as he makes a case for this year’s MVP award.
What Is Victor Wembanyama’s Scoring Career-High Following Historic 1st Quarter?
Following his 25-point first quarter against the Lakers, Wembanyama appeared on pace to break his personal scoring record. The Spurs star’s career-high came on Nov. 13, 2024, against the Washington Wizards, when he put up 50 points.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA:
25 POINTS
8/9 FGM
3/4 3PM8 MINUTES. pic.twitter.com/RXVfwfdx16
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 11, 2026
“My first thought is that eventually I want the rest of our performances, the rest of our games, to overshadow this one. I want to make it where in the future, [this is] just another one,” Wembanyama stated following his 50-point eruption.
At 20 years and 314 days, Wembanyama was the fourth-youngest player to tally 50 points.
Despite not breaking his personal record on Tuesday, the 7-foot-4 big man did break a franchise record with his first-quarter outburst against LA. His 25 points marked the most by a Spur in any quarter in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).
His 37-point first half was also the second-highest in the NBA this season. The only player to score more points in a single half of basketball was Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who had 39 points on Jan. 17 against San Antonio.
Before Tuesday’s contest, across his career, Wembanyama had scored 40-plus points five times. He added another such performance against the Lakers, reaching exactly 40 points.
Throughout the season, questions have emerged surrounding Wembanyama’s eligibility for NBA awards. Currently, the Spurs star has a slim margin of error to meet the league’s 65-game eligibility threshold.
This season, Wembanyama has seen limited minutes due to various injuries, but he has not missed a game since Jan. 3. Currently, he cannot sit out more than three more contests before becoming ineligible for MVP.
Following Tuesday’s 136-108 road win, the Spurs have the NBA’s third-best record (37-16), with the 2023 No. 1 pick averaging 24.4 points and 11.1 rebounds a night.
Wembanyama was the only member of the Spurs to be featured in this year’s All-Star lineups, with San Antonio’s standout campaign marking a testament to his dominance.
