By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a performance that defied physics and history alike, Victor Wembanyama unleashed an absolute reign of terror on Monday night, powering the San Antonio Spurs to their ninth consecutive victory in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with a 129-114 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls at Frost Bank Center.
The 22-year-old French phenom finished with a season-high 41 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. However, the headline of the night was written in the opening minutes, when he recorded the fastest double-double in league history.
The Le Chesnay native needed just 8 minutes and 31 seconds of floor time to reach double digits in both points and rebounds. By the 8:31 mark of the first quarter, the Alien had surpassed the long-standing record held by Jim Washington, who notched a double-double in nine minutes back in 1966.
Wembanyama’s efficiency was equally staggering, shooting 17-of-27 from the field. He punctuated his night with a thunderous one-handed driving dunk in the fourth quarter, marking his 14th 30-plus point game of the season.
“I felt like I needed my offense to get back to a certain level, but that shouldn’t be at the cost of the defense either,” he said during the postgame press conference regarding his aggressive 27-shot performance. “My goal is to get the best shot for the team. So, it’s OK if I don’t get the ball, but tonight the opportunities were there.”
When asked about the Spurs‘ current momentum and his own physical state, he noted, “There’s ups and downs during the season, but right now it feels great.”
Wembanyama also reflected on the team’s nine-game surge, proudly comparing it to his youth career: “When I was playing under-15 in France, we went 22-0 the whole season. We were the national champions. Other than that, this much success? No. This number of games, never.”
The floor was crowded with additional European talent, including France’s Guerschon Yabusele, who started for the Bulls despite an ankle sprain to record 15 points and five rebounds. Wemby shared a moment of respect for his countryman after the buzzer. “He’s a great teammate. I hope to spend lots of time with him in the national team,” he said of the 30-year-old forward. “I try to play the game the same way, but it’s always good having to speak French a little bit on the court.”
While fellow Bulls starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, added 12 points and three blocks, French prospect Noa Essengue continues to recover from season-ending shoulder surgery.
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