Wembanyama Dominates First Half with 22 Points, 7 Rebounds, and 3 Assists — The Shaolin Training Clearly Paid Off!

Victor Wembanyama finally showed the world just how dominant a healthy version of himself can be. In today’s NBA preseason clash between the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz, the French phenom needed only half a game — just 16 minutes — to deliver a stellar performance: 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 6-of-10 from the field, 1-of-4 from three, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. The Spurs fought through overtime to secure a thrilling 134–130 victory. After the game, Wembanyama confidently said, “I pushed myself to the absolute limit this summer,”—and the results clearly proved him right.

This marks the Spurs’ third straight preseason win. In their opener, San Antonio dominated the Guangzhou Loong Lions 119–88, with Wembanyama contributing 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting night, posting a +20 plus-minus. In their second matchup, the Spurs edged out the Miami Heat 112–107, where Wembanyama recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, finishing +5 on the floor.

Facing the Jazz today, Wembanyama reflected on his offseason grind: “I did everything possible this summer. Nobody trained like I did.” That’s no exaggeration — his regimen even included a brief stint training at the Shaolin Temple in China, as well as overcoming a blood clot scare before returning to intense workouts. His relentless effort was on full display.

From the opening tip, Wembanyama was unstoppable — hitting a smooth jumper, finishing a driving layup, and later delivering a powerful dunk plus the foul against Kevin Love for a 2+1. When Utah’s young star Bailey erupted for nine straight points early in the second quarter, Wembanyama responded with another emphatic slam to steady his team. In the final two minutes of the half, he turned up the heat once again, scoring 10 straight points through a mix of jumpers and free throws, leading the Spurs on a 10–4 run and restoring a 15-point halftime lead (70–55).

Though the Jazz forced overtime, the Spurs ultimately prevailed — remaining undefeated in preseason play. And at the heart of it all was Wembanyama — sharper, stronger, and hungrier than ever, proving that all those summer battles, both mental and physical, have forged a player ready to dominate the NBA stage.