All eyes were on Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama on Thursday night as two of the biggest names in the game today faced off on the court for the first time ever. Wemby hasn’t even played half a season in his fledgling NBA career, so to a certain extent, it feels a bit disrespectful to compare them.
Then again, Wemby was more than able to hold his own against the former back-to-back MVP.
Victor Wembanyama Erases Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Dunk Attempt
There were more than a few noteworthy highlights during Thursday’s showdown. One of them came late in the fourth quarter of what turned out to be an extremely close game.
After finding a bit of daylight on his way to the rim, Giannis attempted to throw down a one-handed slam. Wembanyama was having none of it:
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA WITH THE REJECTION ON GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO😱pic.twitter.com/n7onUpWjZw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Talk about a massive rejection, right? What makes this even more impressive is the fact that Giannis bodied Wemby before taking off for his dunk attempt. The fact that the Spurs rookie didn’t get himself run over, and was even able to block Giannis’ shot speaks volumes of the 20-year-old’s upper body strength — despite his slender frame.
Giannis, Milwaukee Bucks Prevail
You also have to note that Wemby’s block came during one of the most crucial junctures of the game. Thanks to his huge defensive stop, the Spurs still had a chance to tie the one-possession game with 22 seconds remaining.
In the end, however, Giannis and the Bucks were able to hold on, securing a hard-fought 125-121 victory.
Needless to say, fans can’t wait for the next time these two go toe-to-toe again.
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