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Victor Vector: Victor Wembanyama misses 2 of Spurs' last 3 games, but holds steady in rankings

Ben Rohrbach
Senior NBA writer
·8 min read
3

Welcome to the Victor Wembanyama experience. Come one, come all, for there is a 7-foot-4 Frenchman who can nutmeg you off the bounce, block your 3-pointers, step back from 3, put back his own stepback in two steps and dunk on you from a standstill outside the restricted area. Behold the human cheat code.

Here, we'll track the San Antonio Spurs rookie's weekly progress relative to the most anticipated prospects of the past 50 years, using Yahoo Sports' own default fantasy basketball settings to rank their production.

Before we get started, a key:

  • Season averages: Points (FG%/3P%/FT%), rebounds, assists (turnovers), steals, blocks

  • Advanced: Player efficiency rating, true-shooting percentage, win shares per 48, box plus-minus

  • Through X games (record): Total PTS-REB-AST-STL-BLK, TO (FGA-FGM, 3PA-3PM, FTA-FTM)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week X): Default season settings

Without further ado, the Victor Vector rankings: Week 1 (16th) • Week 2 (6th) • Week 3 (6th) • Week 4 (5th) • Week 5 (3rd) • Week 6 (4th) • Week 7 (4th) • Week 8 (4th) • Week 9 ...

20. Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons

  • 1981-82: 17 PTS (42/29/70), 7.8 AST (4.2 TO), 2.9 REB, 2.1 STL, 0.2 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 14.5 PER, 48.7 TS%, .046 WS/48, -0.8 BPM

  • Through 28 games (13-15): 420-60-163-48*-5*, 97* TO (153-357 FG, 2-18* 3P, 112-164 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 578.35

(*Some game-to-game statistics unavailable. Estimates based on season averages.)

19. Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics

  • 2007-08: 20.3 PTS (43/29/87), 4.4 REB, 2.4 AST (2.9 TO), 1.0 STL, 0.9 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 15.8 PER, 51.9 TS%, .040 WS/48, -0.1 BPM

  • Through 28 games (8-20): 560-122-59-27-33, 89 TO (193-477 FG, 36-113 3P, 138-161 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 686.6

18. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

  • 2002-03: 13.5 PTS (50/50/81), 8.2 REB, 1.8 BLK, 1.7 AST (2.1 TO), 0.4 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 20.6 PER, 57.0 TS%, .176 WS/48, 2.2 BPM

  • Through 28 games (15-13): 369-217-39-9-56, 64 TO (134-237 FG, 0-0 3P, 101-127 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 688.1

17. Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons

  • 1994-95: 19.9 PTS (48/15/73), 6.4 REB, 5 AST (2.9 TO), 1.8 STL, 0.9 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 19 PER, 54.1 TS%, .097 WS/48, 2.0 BPM

  • Through 28 games (9-19): 461-125-106-50-25, 64 TO (158-344 FG, 3-13 3P, 142-181 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 745.45

16. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

  • 1996-97: 23.5 PTS (42/34/70), 7.5 AST (4.4 TO), 4.1 REB, 2.1 STL, 0.3 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 18 PER, 51.3 TS%, .065 WS/48, 0.9 BPM

  • Through 28 games (8-20): 510-112-159-48-10, 121 TO (173-439 FG, 48-148 3P, 116-177 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 775.7

15. Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks

  • 1985-86: 20 PTS (47/0/74), 9 REB, 2.1 BLK, 2.0 AST (3.4 TO), 1.1 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 17.4 PER, 52.6 TS%, .084 WS/48, 1.1 BPM

  • Through 28 games (9-19): 516-255-54-28-59, 100 TO (197-418 FG, 0-2 3P, 122-169 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 813.65

14. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

  • 2018-19: 21.2 PTS (43/33/71), 7.8 REB, 6 AST (3.4 TO), 1.1 STL, 0.3 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 19.6 PER, 54.5 TS%, .101 WS/48, 3.9 BPM

  • Through 28 games (15-13): 491-182-125-29-9, 97 TO (166-382 FG, 57-159 3P, 102-133 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 855.85

13. Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

  • 1984-85: 20.6 PTS (54/0/61), 11.9 REB, 2.7 BLK, 1.4 AST (2.9 TO), 1.2 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 21.1 PER, 56.4 TS%, .168 WS/48, 2.1 BPM

  • Through 28 games (17-11): 536-304-42-30-62, 88 TO (217-412 FG, 0-0 3P, 102-179 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 907.35

12. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

  • 2003-04: 20.9 PTS (42/29/75), 5.9 AST (3.5 TO), 5.5 REB, 1.6 STL, 0.7 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 18.3 PER, 48.8 TS%, .078 WS/48, 1.7 BPM

  • Through 28 games (9-19): 541-169-169-43-20, 103 TO (202-481 FG, 27-87 3P, 110-143 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 914.3

11. Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

  • 1979-80: 18 PTS (53/23/81), 7.7 REB, 7.3 AST, 2.4 STL (4.0 TO), 0.5 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 20.6 PER, 60.2 TS%, .180 WS/48, 4.8 BPM

  • Through 28 games (19-9): 462-184-188-55-9, 92 TO (167-322 FG, 2-8 3P, 126-153 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 930.35

10. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

  • 2010-11: 22.5 PTS (51/29/64), 12.1 REB, 3.8 AST (2.7 TO), 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 21.9 PER, 54.9 TS%, .152 WS/48, 2.6 BPM

  • Through 28 games (7-21): 580-344-87-22-18, 77 TO (226-443 FG, 1-2 3P, 127-221 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 936.9

9. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

  • 1997-98: 21.1 PTS (55/0/66), 11.9 REB, 2.7 AST (3.4 TO), 2.5 B LK, 0.7 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 22.6 PER, 57.7 TS%, .192 WS/48, 4.6 BPM

  • Through 28 games (17-11): 472-323-57-16-75, 88 TO (203-356 FG, 0-2 3P, 66-128 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 944.3

8. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

  • 1984-85: 28.2 PTS (52/17/85), 6.5 REB, 5.9 AST (3.5 TO), 2.4 STL, 0.8 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 25.8 PER, 59.2 TS%, .213 WS/48, 7.3 BPM

  • Through 28 games (14-14): 695-144-124-69-34, 96 TO (263-540 FG, 2-12 3P, 167-204 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 968.5

7. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

  • 2005-06: 16.1 PTS (43/28/85), 7.8 AST (2.3 TO), 5.1 REB, 2.2 STL, 0.1 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 22.1 PER, 54.6 TS%, .178 WS/48, 5.2 BPM

  • Through 28 games (12-16): 457-166-204-65-1, 68 TO (157-361 FG, 17-63 3P, 126-158 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,000.55

6. Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

  • 1979-80: 21.3 PTS (47/41/84), 10.4 REB, 4.5 AST (3.2 TO), 1.7 STL, 0.6 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 20.5 PER, 53.8 TS%, .182 WS/48, 4.5 BPM

  • Through 28 games (21-7): 531-290-129-50-21, 99 TO (219-458 FG, 8-29 3P, 85-102 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,018.9

5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

  • 2023-24: 19 PTS (44/28/79), 11 REB, 2.7 AST (3.4 TO), 1.3 STL, 3 BLK

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 18.3 PER, 52.3 TS%, .015 WS/48, -0.5 BPM

  • Through 28 games (4-24): 462-268-70-34-74, 83 TO (173-398 FG, 34-122 3P, 82-106 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,029.4

4. Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets

  • 1991-92: 16.6 PTS (49/0/64), 12.3 REB, 3 BLK, 2 AST (3.5 TO), 0.6 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 16.5 PER, 54.0 TS%, .086 WS/48, 0.0 BPM

  • Through 28 games (12-16): 527-393-58-20-75, 107 TO (195-403 FG, 0-0 3P, 137-205 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,036.9

3. Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets

  • 1983-84: 21 PTS (52/25/66), 11.1 REB, 2.4 BLK, 2 AST (3.6 TO), 0.9 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 20.1 PER, 55.1 TS%, .108 WS/48, 0.9 BPM

  • Through 28 games (11-17): 569-349-70-17-76, 89 TO (236-457 FG, 0-1 3P, 97-148 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,065.35

2. David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

  • 1989-90: 24.3 PTS (53/0/73), 12 REB, 3.9 BLK, 2.0 AST (3.1 TO), 1.7 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 26.3 PER, 59.7 TS%, .241 WS/48, 6.9 BPM

  • Through 28 games (21-7): 628-339-54-47-78, 82 TO (208-380 FG, 0-0 3P, 212-295 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,169.25

1. Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic

  • 1992-93: 23.4 PTS (56/0/59), 13.9 REB, 3.5 BLK, 1.9 AST (3.8 TO), 0.7 STL

  • Advanced rookie statistics: 22.9 PER, 58.4 TS%, .163 WS/48, 3.5 BPM

  • Through 28 games (14-14): 638-418-44-20-115, 112 TO (244-452 FG, 0-1 3P, 150-265 FT)

  • Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 9): 1,206.85