Victor Wembanyama had a historic rookie year Kareem couldn't match / News - Basketnews.com

Wembanyama averaged a stat line that nobody else in league history was able to do in such a quick amount of time.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect-Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect-Scanpix

Victor Wembanyama was arguably the most hyped prospect to come into the NBA in decades. The San Antonio Spurs' Frenchman has proven his worth in the very first season in the league.

Victor Wembanyama

MIN:29.66PTS:21.44 (54.28%)REB:10.63As:3.86ST:1.23BL:3.58TO:3.66GM:71ProfileNBA2023/2024

Wembanyama will miss the final game of the regular season. As such, he will have finished his rookie year with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks. Although this stat line is not unique in history overall, it is unique in this particular case.

Only six other players in NBA history - David Robinson (three times), Hakeem Olajuwon (three times), Shaquille O'Neal, Bob Lanier, Patrick Ewing, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7 times) - have achieved a stat line of at least 21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks per game.

Wembanyama, though, is the first player to do it in under 30 minutes per game (29.7), surpassing Abdul-Jabbar who previously held the low-mark of 36.5 minutes per game.. The French center also averaged the fewest field goal attempts out of all 17 seasons that match the criteria, and he's also the first rookie to do it. Interestingly, all six other players were selected as All-Stars in their respective seasons, and Wembanyama was not.

Arguably, the best season out of the 17 that match the criteria belongs to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged a whopping 27.7 points, 16.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game during the 1975-76 season while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

All six players went on to become Hall of Famers.

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