To become NBA history’s No. 1 producer in a specific stat after just 111 career games is almost unheard of, but during January 31, 2025’s head-to-head against a fellow global icon, Victor Wembanyama again discovered that, with 96-inch wingspans, very little can be considered completely “out of reach.” Tested immediately against the always-physical Giannis Antetokounmpo — collector of a league-high 19.5 points per game in the paint alone — Wembanyama rose to the occasion quite literally, rejecting the Milwaukee Bucks’ megastar during a two-swats-in-14-seconds sequence. On pace for a shot-blocking sensation before the game’s literal first commercial break, Wembanyama, appropriately, kept his antennas raised, patrolling the paint through from-behind denials, near top-of-the-backboard send aways, and equal offensive brilliance. Admittedly bothered by allergies since returning from the NBA’s Paris Games, the recently-named All-Star sprung his way into a 30-point gem (on 9-of-20 shooting), joined by 14 rebounds, six blocks, five 3-pointers, and a game-high 13 shot contests. Alongside a victory, the breathtaking box score allowed the San Antonio Spurs’ second-year talent to record league history’s most games with at least five 3-pointers and five blocks, with five such instances. · Feb 1, 2025