There was plenty of reasons to tune into the battle between Spurs and Mavericks on Night 2 of the NBA’s return to the airwaves for the 2024-2025 season. You could choose to see the return of the rookie of the year Stephon Castle whose scintillating first season renewed hope in the ancient ruins of San Antonio’s former dynasty. Or you could get pumped about the debut of Cooper Flag, the #1 pick from Duke who is the league’s consolation prize to the Mavs for that bizarre trade that sent franchise hero
Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. Oh yeah, this was also a chance to peep the future hall of famer AD starting his revenge year that shocking trade from LeBron’s good graces.
And if you’re a Dub Nation member, who can resist a clash between Steph and Draymond’s former 73-win-season-teammates turned hitmen-for-hire, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes?
But tonight, all eyes were on Wembanyama, who gave the absolute business to AD and put up a performance that was so dominant, many observers realized we may actually be living in the beginning of the Wemby Age. The final line: 40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 15-for-21 shooting, zero turnovers. Spurs 125, Mavericks 92. This was Wembanyama’s first game in eight months after deep vein thrombosis ended his season in February. The kind of diagnosis that threatens everything. The kind that makes you forget about basketball and remember mortality.
The most telling stat might be the two three-point attempts. Just two. This wasn’t the perimeter-hunting Wemby we’ve watched. This was surgical. He operated in the paint with a veteran’s patience, shooting 71.4% and making Anthony Davis search for answers that don’t exist. Zero turnovers in 30 minutes tells you everything about his evolution. That’s not talent overwhelming competition. That’s control. That’s someone who spent the offseason with Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett, who studied with monks in China, who came back fundamentally transformed.
ON ANTHONY DAVIS! Let’s not forget that ESPN ranked #13 overall of the best players in the NBA, with this quote about him: “When Davis is healthy, there are few players who have the blend of offensive production and defensive impact. Davis averaged at least 20 points, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a season for the 11th time in his career in 2024-25, second most by any player since blocks and steals became official in 1973-74. Only Hakeem Olajuwon has more such seasons.”
Davis finished 7-for-22. Cooper Flagg, the hyped number one pick, managed 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting in his debut. Neither of these guys looked remotely on Wemby’s level for the majority of this game.
The Spurs went 34-48 last season with Wembanyama playing just 46 games before the injury. Wednesday night felt different. It felt like a declaration. He’s a 7-foot-4 center with guard skills, defensive versatility across positions, and an intellectual approach suggesting he’s already operating at a level most players never reach. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks over his first two seasons. Those numbers are about to look quaint.
And in true Spurs fashion, they’ve surrounded him with high motor athletes who play the right way, like the ROY Castle who poured in a loud 22-7-6 statline on Dallas. Harper, the #2 pick right after Flagg, made his prescence felt off of the bench with 15 points in 23 minutes. This team is still waiting on the return of All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox. So if you were waiting for when San Antonio would be good again post the Tim Duncan era, I’m pretty sure this would be the first year they could present something of a problem to the Warriors in the postseason.
The Wemby Age isn’t coming sometime in the distant future. It’s already landing right before our very eyes. Al Horford go lock him up!
