The San Antonio Spurs are having a rough season, but the presence of Victor Wembanyama has been a bright spot. He’s not shooting particularly well from the field (or from three-point land), but his potential is clear. At his height and with his knowledge of the game, he’s set to be the face of the Spurs franchise for years to come.
Wembanyama is averaging 18.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the floor and 27.8% from behind the arc. The statline is incredible. However, it’s not even the best rookie season produced in Spurs history. No, that title belongs to Tim Duncan, who was not only the best San Antonio rookie ever but perhaps the best rookie ever, period.
The Bench Mob YouTube channel recently broke down why Duncan’s rookie season may have been the best in NBA history.
In his rookie year, Duncan averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 54.9% from the field. He was an All-Star in his rookie year.
Duncan helped lead the Spurs to the second round of the playoffs in his rookie season, and in his sophomore year in the league, he helped them win an NBA Championship.
That said, Duncan did have the help of fellow legend and Hall-of-Famer David Robinson in his first few years, giving him a perfect co-star to help him compete.
With the numbers he put up and the level of success he found, Duncan’s rookie year may very well be the best ever.
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