Victor Wembanyama Reveals Using Hall of Famer’s Moves in Dominant Game 3 Performance

Victor Wembanyama powered the San Antonio Spurs to a Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Victor Wembanyama Reveals Using Hall of Famer’s Moves in Dominant Game 3 Performance

Victor Wembanyama (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Victor Wembanyama scored a game-high 39 points with 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in Game 3 against the Timberwolves.
  • He utilized Hakeem Olajuwon's spinning fadeaway jumper during the game, showcasing his training with the Hall of Famer.
  • The Spurs now lead the series 2-1, with Wembanyama's performance pivotal for their postseason success.

Victor Wembanyama is both an unstoppable force and an immovable object at the moment. He was at his absolute best on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals.

After a neck-to-neck first half, the San Antonio Spurs came out strong in the third quarter and had a seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. They held on to their lead and registered a 115-108 victory over the Wolves at the Target Center. The win in Game 3 gave the Spurs a 2-1 lead in the series.

After the game, Wembanyama spoke about taking a page from Hakeem Olajuwon‘s book with his spinning fadeaway jumper.

It’s good to be along with the big fellas. I had to resort to some things that Hakeem taught me in this fourth quarter, especially that spin fadeaway over Rudy.

Victor Wembanyama in his post-match press conference

In Game 3, Victor Wembanyama pulled off a few spinning fadeaways, which were reminiscent of Hakeem Olajuwon‘s fadeaway jumpers. During the offseason last year, the Frenchman hit the gym and trained with the Hall of Famer. Hence, it is not surprising to see him copy some of his mentor’s moves.

There is no doubt that the Spurs go as far as Wembanyama takes them. The Spurs center set the record for most blocks in an NBA Playoff game in Game 1, which ended in a losing effort. However, they bounced back strongly in Game 2 as they handed the Wolves their largest postseason loss in franchise history.

Wembanyama is destined for greatness. In just his third season in the NBA, he became the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and led the Spurs to their first postseason appearance since 2019. With an anomaly like Wembanyama on their side, the Spurs are strong favorites to go all the way.

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Victor Wembanyama was unstoppable on both ends of the court in Game 3

While Victor Wembanyama was a defensive wall in Game 1, he struggled to find any rhythm on the offensive end as he scored just 11 points. But in Game 3, he came with all guns blazing from tip-off.

The French center recorded another double-double in the postseason as he scored a game-high 39 points to go along with 15 rebounds and five blocks in 37 minutes. It was the most points he has scored in a playoff game in his young NBA career.

Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama
Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama (Image via San Antonio Spurs/X)

It was not just about the 39 points he scored in Game 3 but also his efficiency. He shot at 72% from the field and made three out of his five three-pointer attempts. The center also made 10 of his 12 free throws in what was a complete performance when the Spurs needed him most, as they took back their home court advantage.

The 22-year-old’s performance in Game 3 was one for the record books as well. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to record 35+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a playoff game. He joined an elite list of players in doing so. The other three players were Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

What changed for Victor Wembanyama in Game 3?

Heading into Game 3, Victor Wembanyama was averaging just 15 points in the first two games against the Wolves. On Friday night, he scored 16 of his 39 points in just the fourth quarter. It looks like Wembanyama is adjusting to the playoff intensity faster than most would have expected.

When asked about what changed for him in Game 3 compared to Games 1 and 2, he said:

Watching film. Facing the mistakes. Having my teammates and coaches holding me accountable. We got what it takes. We don’t have the experience but we don’t care. We can go to the top, to the very top if we play like tonight consistently.

Victor Wembanyama on NBA On Prime

After a poor showing in Game 1, Wembanyama and the Spurs have been in full flow in Games 2 and 3. The momentum is on their side as they have secured home-court advantage. They will be looking to take a 3-1 lead in the series in Game 4.

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