Wembanyama eager to continue developing after historic season opener
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Victor Wembanyama insisted he is "still going to get better" after a stunning display in the San Antonio Spurs' 125-92 win against the Dallas Mavericks.
The 21-year-old scored 40 points, shooting 71% from the field, and registered 15 rebounds and three blocks in the opening game victory.
It marked the first time since the 1977-78 season that a player recorded a stat line with 40 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks with no turnovers, while it was also the most points scored by a San Antonio player in a season opener in franchise history.
Wembanyama took a trip to China during the off-season and worked with Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon in order to improve his physical and mental strength on the court.
The work clearly paid off after a jaw-dropping performance, but the Frenchman is not completely satisfied with himself just yet.
"[I was] much more in control of myself," Wembanyama said.
UNREAL pic.twitter.com/vJspUdqOEM
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 23, 2025
"The mind, I'm not worried about [that] because I saw what it's like to be confronted with potentially losing a lot, whether it's your career or your health.
"So I'm not taking this for granted anymore. The body? I'm having more fun now that I'm not struggling to move as much.
"I know I still need to get better, and I'm still going to get better."
It was a contrasting night for Mavericks rookie and number one draft pick Cooper Flagg, who scored 10 points on four-of-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.
Flagg started at point guard, but struggled to make a big impact as he registered no assists but turned the ball over three times.
Despite the shaky start to life in the NBA, team-mate Anthony Davis believes there is no reason to be worried.
"Game one. I mean, he's still a rookie," said Davis.
"You're coming in and preseason was obviously good, but when that game one comes around [in a] packed stadium, national TV game.
"I'm not sure if he's a social media guy or not, but you saw it - everything was No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Wemby match up and all this stuff.
"So you start hearing it, and I'm not sure if it got to him, but it's first-game jitters when it's time for the real thing. So he'll be fine."
