In between giving his teammates plenty of reasons for celebratory, end-of-game high-fives on Halloween night, Victor Wembanyama’s box score confirmed that he also had a different type of five-by-five in mind. Seemingly dedicating Thursday’s battle to accomplishing tasks that 7-foot-4 players aren’t supposed to be able to, Wembanyama gifted Salt Lake City with sweet on-court treats throughout October 31, 2024’s win. Excellence arrived almost immediately, as Wembanyama helped the San Antonio Spurs shake free of the metaphorically-fitting “cobwebs,” erasing a slow start through a rebound, followed by an audacious coast-to-coast pull-up triple. Far from finished, the superstar in silver-and-black offered his trademark assortment of abnormally-normal acts. Defending both the ballhandler and screener in the pick-and-roll? Using his all-reaching eight-foot wingspan to both pickpocket point guards and deliver behind-the-back feeds to teammates in transition? Joining “The Point God” for spiritual experiences through above-the-rim alley-oop connections? The second-year big had it all, and did it all against the Utah Jazz, becoming just league history’s third-ever player to record multiple five-by-five displays. Ironically costumed as “Slenderman” upon arrival, Wembanyama’s anything-but-slim statline finished as follows: 25 points (on 9-of-20 shooting), nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals, five blocks, four trifectas, and a +43 plus-minus. · Nov 1, 2024