SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The “Alien” nickname doesn’t feel like a stretch anymore. Victor Wembanyama looked every bit like something not of this planet Sunday night, powering the San Antonio Spurs to a convincing 118–107 win over the Brooklyn Nets and giving his team a perfect 3–0 start to the season.
From start to finish, the 7-foot-3 French superstar controlled every inch of the court. He finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists, and 3 steals, the kind of box score that used to sound like fiction until Wembanyama made it routine. Sunday marked the 23rd game of his young career with at least six blocks — and he’s only in his third NBA season.
But it was a single stretch before halftime that captured everything that makes him special.
With about 40 seconds left in the second quarter, the Nets tried to chip away at San Antonio’s 18-point lead. Nic Claxton tossed up a soft jumper in the paint — smack! — Wembanyama sent it right back. Brooklyn forward Terance Mann grabbed the rebound and went up strong, only to have his shot denied again by the Frenchman’s impossibly long arms. Before the Nets could regroup, Wemby had snatched the ball, dribbled coast to coast, and calmly drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Frost Bank Center erupted. The crowd didn’t just cheer — they gasped. It was the kind of sequence that reminds everyone why people call him “extraterrestrial.”
“It’s just instinct,” Wembanyama said afterward. “You react, you defend, and if there’s time left, you take the shot.” Easy for him to say.
While Brooklyn tried to hang around behind Cam Thomas’s 40-point effort, San Antonio’s energy never really faded. Every time the Nets threatened, the Spurs responded with defensive stops and smart passing. Keldon Johnson chipped in 19 points, Devin Vassell added 16, and rookie guard Tre Jones dished out 10 assists to keep the offense flowing.
For the Spurs, the win wasn’t just about highlights — it was about maturity. This young team has often struggled to close out games in previous seasons, but on Sunday they stayed composed, controlled the tempo, and executed down the stretch. Their defense forced 17 turnovers and held the Nets under 45% shooting from the floor.
Head coach Gregg Popovich, who rarely gets carried away with early-season praise, couldn’t hide his satisfaction. “You can see the growth,” he said postgame. “We’re learning how to trust one another on both ends. Victor sets the tone, but everyone’s feeding off it.”
Statistically, Wembanyama is already breaking new ground. According to the NBA, he’s the first player in league history to score at least 100 points and record 15 blocks in the first three games of a season. His earlier performances — 40 points and three blocks against Dallas, 29 points and nine blocks against New Orleans — have put him in elite company before Halloween.
For Brooklyn, Thomas’s scoring burst was the lone bright spot in an otherwise frustrating night. Claxton and Mikal Bridges combined for only 21 points, and the team never found consistent rhythm offensively. “We gave them too many second chances,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández admitted. “And with a player like Wemby, you just can’t afford mistakes.”
The Spurs’ victory sends a clear message: the rebuild may be ending sooner than expected. With Wembanyama leading the charge, the franchise looks more confident, more connected, and — dare we say — playoff-ready.
Up next, San Antonio faces the Toronto Raptors at home, hoping to extend their unbeaten run. If Wembanyama continues to play like this, there’s no telling how far this young group can go.
And as for that “Alien” label? After Sunday night, no one’s arguing. On a floor full of humans, Victor Wembanyama once again looked like something entirely different.