The 7-foot-5 third-year player became San Antonio’s all-time leading scorer in an NBA season opener.
Published October 23, 2025
Victor Wembaneyama made a highlight-reel return with 40 points and 15 rebounds to help the San Antonio Spurs spoil No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg’s debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Flagg, the second-youngest player to start in his NBA debut two days after LeBron James, finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, not allowing a point until the first possession of the second half.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The 18-year-old from Duke University had a harder time getting into the flow than the second overall pick. Dylan Harper came off San Antonio’s bench midway through the first quarter and started a run that put the Spurs in control, scoring 15 points. Current Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle scored 22 points for the Spurs.
Anthony Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Mavericks await the return of star guard Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and is likely to take several months before making his season debut.
Wembaneyama, who set the Spurs’ all-time scoring record in the season opener, dominated matchups against two of the last three top draft picks, with the 2023 No. 1 draft pick adding three blocks on a couple of spectacular dunks and making a few buckets with fouls that sent Davis and Derek Lively II to the bench.
The 7-foot-5 sensation was playing in the regular season for the first time since ending his sophomore season in February after suffering a deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder that required surgery.
Wenbanyama put the Spurs in control with a 13-0 run late in the first half. After Harper scored, 2024 Rookie of the Year Pump pretended to get out of a double team and was fouled by Davis on his way to a reverse dunk. On the next down, he hit a jumper when Davis picked up his fourth foul.
The Spurs next travel to New Orleans on Friday night, and Dallas begins a five-game homestand against Washington, also starting Friday.
