After helping restore intensity to the All-Star Game, Victor Wembanyama wasted no time returning to his dominant form for the San Antonio Spurs. The 7-foot-4 phenom continued to stuff the stat sheet Thursday night as San Antonio faced the Phoenix Suns following the All-Star break.
In the process, Wembanyama reached yet another eye-popping milestone, significant enough to surpass NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal in the history books.
Victor Wembanyama Creates NBA History Against The Suns
Wembanyama delivered another dominant performance, posting 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and 5 blocks in just 25 minutes to help the Spurs secure a commanding 27-point victory. The outing marked his 46th career game with five or more blocks, allowing him to surpass O’Neal for the most such games by a player aged 22 or younger.
Although O’Neal has previously said he doesn’t believe the NBA has truly revived the traditional center position, he does view Wembanyama as one of the league’s rare true big men, alongside Nikola Jokić.
“Jokić is the only guy that I would consider a big man, and Wemby, that’s two,” O’Neal said recently. “But I remember when every team had a center. So now you just got a bunch of guys running in the same place, picking and popping.”
Victor Wembanyama recorded his 46th career game with 5+ blocks Thursday breaking a tie with Shaquille O’Neal for the most by a player age 22 or younger 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/KdHJ6wO0Cj
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 20, 2026
For O’Neal, the defining trait of a true center isn’t just height; it’s dominance in the paint. That’s an area where Wembanyama continues to excel. He is averaging 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game this season while shooting a career-high 51% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range.
The surging Spurs entered the All-Star break on a six-game winning streak and have now improved to 39–16, good for second place in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are viewed as legitimate contenders to challenge for the NBA title, with Wembanyama also emerging as a strong Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Already one of the league’s most popular stars, Wembanyama’s appeal extends beyond his on-court production. He has openly stated his goal of becoming the best player in the world and winning championships, earning widespread respect for both his ambition and humility.
As the NBA transitions from the era defined by legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Wembanyama is widely seen as a potential face of the league’s next chapter. At the same time, former MVPs such as Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, all now 30 or older, are gradually moving toward the latter stages of their primes.
If that shift continues, Wembanyama could find himself ascending just as two defining NBA eras overlap, with a chance to shape what comes next.
