There was no shortage of action in the first-ever meeting of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama on Thursday night. The San Antonio Spurs hosted a suddenly struggling Milwaukee Bucks side that was coming off back-to-back losses to the Indiana Pacers.
At this point, it’s safe to say that the two stars were able to live up to the hype of their highly-anticipated duel.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Vs. Victor Wembanyama Was a Blockbuster
Fans did not have to wait very long for an absolute gem of a sequence between the two stars. After Giannis threw down a dunk on one end, Wemby quickly responded with an absurd off-the-board alley-oop to himself:
A ridiculous sequence from Giannis and Wemby, with Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller on the call for TNT. 🏀🎙️🔥 pic.twitter.com/0ZCrPOhDan
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 5, 2024
Poetry in motion from Victor Wembanyama 👌 pic.twitter.com/PUxS3n8x4O
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
This angle of Victor Wembanyama splitting the defense, leaving Giannis on the reach and going for the self alley-oop SLAM 👀🔥
(via @HectorLedesmaTV) pic.twitter.com/hZc5r0JUTK
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Not too many players can pull that off in a game, but Wembanyama, who incidentally turned 20 years old on Thursday, made it look easy.
Antetokounmpo got his revenge in the third quarter, though, with a massive poster on the Spurs youngster:
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO THROWS IT DOWN 😤pic.twitter.com/wYx0gskmMC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Plus the foul!
It did not end there. It’s as if the fans were watching two heavyweight boxers go toe-to-toe. This epic sequence in the fourth quarter pretty much epitomized the same:
The Greek Freak vs. The French Freak
The first matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama was unbelievable…with this sequence being one of the many moments that'll stick with me. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/8dEfguRXdK
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 5, 2024
Wembanyama would turn in one final entry late in the game. With Antetokounmpo looking to deliver the dagger blow with less than a minute remaining, the Spurs rookie made sure to keep his team in the game with a MASSIVE rejection on the former back-to-back MVP:
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA WITH THE REJECTION ON GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO😱pic.twitter.com/n7onUpWjZw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
NBA Twitter Is on Fire
As previously mentioned, there was absolutely no shortage of action on Thursday night. NBA Twitter agrees:
GIANNIS VS. WEMBY TONIGHT
Giannis Antetokounmpo:
44 PTS – 14 REB – 7 AST – 67% FGVictor Wembanyama:
27 PTS – 9 REB – 5 BLK – 55% FG🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2rWG8gwjyT
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 5, 2024
Giannis Antetokounmpo was DOMINANT in the Bucks win against the Spurs 😤
44 points
14 rebounds
7 assists
2 steals19-of-28 FG
2-of-3 3PT
4-of-6 FT pic.twitter.com/tgk8fhsSUt— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Despite the loss to the Bucks, Victor Wembanyama SHOWED OUT and went head-to-head against Giannis 🔥
27 PTS
9 REB
5 BLK
1 STL
10-of-18 FG
5-of-6 FTOn the same day, the NBA announced someone else won the WCF Rookie of the Month and it was revealed the he's 8th in the All-Star… pic.twitter.com/wefFtS6KAv
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Victor Wembanyama tonight pic.twitter.com/3m1Ad35rTJ
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) January 5, 2024
Giannis Antetokounmpo x Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/AQrxEHmMxl
— Timberwolves Brasil (@twolvesbrazil) January 5, 2024
Giannis Antetokounmpo with another MVP performance: 44 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 67% shooting.
Victor Wembanyama: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 55% shooting.
These two generational talents put on a freakishly entertaining show tonight.pic.twitter.com/4KnfMc84Ap
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) January 5, 2024
Unfortunately, this is the second and final meeting between the Bucks and the Spurs this season (Wemby was out injured in their first encounter). We’ll all have to wait until next season for the next installment of this highly entertaining duel.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.
