Victor Wembanyama returned Tuesday night after missing two games and immediately grabbed headlines, scoring 30 points in just 21 minutes in the Spurs’ loss in Memphis. San Antonio built a solid lead with him on the floor, but couldn’t hold off the Grizzlies once he went to the bench due to minute restrictions.
What truly went viral, though, happened during the first quarter break, as the 7-foot-4 phenom showcased jaw-dropping athleticism at the rim.
Victor Wembanyama Shows Off Unreal Reach
The Spurs led 31–21 after the first quarter, and during the break, four basketballs somehow became lodged in the net. Removing them the easy way would’ve been simple, but Wembanyama opted for something far more memorable.
Instead of reaching up, Wembanyama leapt and delivered a flying kick, his foot nearly reaching rim level as he knocked one of the balls free. Just as impressive was how he landed cleanly on his feet, avoiding any awkward or dangerous fall.
The moment stood out even more, considering Wembanyama had missed the previous two games with a hyperextended left knee. While he kicked with his right leg, it’s the type of move a player doesn’t attempt unless he has complete confidence in his lower body.
“Wemby is allowed to do this during warmups but he can’t play down the stretch as the Spurs blow a lead because of a ‘minutes restriction.’ Make it make sense!” Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor wrote.
Wemby is allowed to do this during warmups but he can’t play down the stretch as the Spurs blow a lead because of a “minutes restriction.” Make it make sense! pic.twitter.com/NzQ9ZOtjWU
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) January 7, 2026
Despite the display, San Antonio remained cautious, limiting Wembanyama to 21 minutes of playing time. In that time, he still led the team with 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three, along with five rebounds and three assists.
Wembanyama now has the second most games in NBA history with 30+ PTS in under 25 MIN. For the season, he is now averaging 24.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.8 blocks per contest while shooting 52.4% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range in 22 games.
The loss dropped the Spurs to 25-11, placing them in second place in the Western Conference. As impressive as that is, it gets better for them. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been sliding since their historic start. They’ve gone 5-5 in their last 10, which has dropped them to 30-7. The Spurs are four games back of them for the No. 1 seed, meaning it’s absolutely within their grasp.
San Antonio will next host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, who enter on a three-game winning streak with a chance to shake up the standings and overtake the Spurs for second place.
