Wembanyama’s 100th game rewrites NBA record books on the eve of 21st birthday

Two MVP candidates just completed their first clash of the season, and it was worth the price of admission. Victor Wembanayama posted 35 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks. The Spurs won exactly the sort of game fans expected to see—a knockdown drag-out. San Antonio won 113-110, and it came down to the very last play.

While the game was everything we hoped for, it takes a backseat to the significance of tonight's game. Wembanyama has just played his 100th game on the eve of his 21st birthday—a milestone in any young person's life. Both are perfect benchmarks for historical NBA comparisons.

The reigning Rookie of the Year has given us much to look forward to, but before we journey into the future with the Alien, let's first take a look back at where he ranks in some of the NBA's most coveted stats before turning 21. You'll be shocked by how quickly he's reached these heights in a mere 100 games.

Wembanyama is on an astounding pace

Points

The thing that stands out, other than how quickly Wembanyama raced up this list, is that the only big man above him is Dwight Howard. Every other player is a guard or forward. Howard was another physical specimen, and he punished teams on the inside with his Incredible Hulk-like physique. Still, Howard had an additional 84 games for less than 400 additional points.

As amazing as Wemby is on defense, he's treated fans to several offensive explosions, dropping the jaws of viewers worldwide. When scouts told everyone to get ready to see something unique before he showed up, they should have exaggerated more.

Rebounds

Wembanyama is often criticized for not grabbing enough rebounds, but he averages over 10 boards a game in his young career. He's running around with a slender frame, hoisting shots from the perimeter, and contesting 3-pointers on the other end due to his versatility, but he still gets it done more often than not, and the numbers prove it.

3-Pointers

This list is a testament to the way the game has turned over the past half-decade. Most of the guys on the list were drafted within the last five years. Again, what makes this impressive is how many fewer games Wemby needed to get to this level, but also that he's the only center on the page. Jabari Smith Jr. is the closest thing to a big man on this list, and that label can be easily debated by Peyton Manning.

Blocks

None of the other lists showed the player that followed Wembanyama because it was irrelevant, but Kevin Garnett is anything but irrelevant. He was a top-tier defensive talent from the jump, and showing where he was in comparison to where Wemby landed is significant. Josh Smith was a shocking name to see at the top of this list, but then I remembered how freakishly athletic he was.

Still, his place at the top is overshadowed by how close Victor is despite playing in 69 fewer games. It's mind-blowing to consider how fast the Alien is accumulating statistics. He's been a spectacular passer and an above-average thief on the court, but he didn't reach top-25 in those areas, so they weren't included.

What has to be understood about these stats is the context they're taken under. Don't, for one second, forget that he's only played in 100 games. When you take away the age and make the number of games played the sole benchmark, it paints an even clearer picture.

What's shown should be more than enough to convince you of his capacity to be the greatest of all time. The potential is there. The only player who could affect as many areas as Wembanyama is still playing, and his name is LeBron James. Yet, not even Bron has the ability to defend the rim like Wemby, giving him an entirely different element in a very unique package.