Eight Minutes to Greatness: Wembanyama Makes More History in Rout of Bulls

Read Time:2 Minute, 27 Second

The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to nine games on Monday night with a 129–114 victory over the Chicago Bulls, but the story of the night was Victor Wembanyama. In a performance that felt like a definitive closing argument for the 2026 MVP award, the 22-year-old superstar made history before the first quarter was even over.

A Night for the History Books

Wembanyama finished the night with a season-high 41 points and 16 rebounds, but it was his start that left the Frost Bank Center crowd in awe.

The Fastest Double-Double: Wembanyama recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 8 minutes and 31 seconds of play. This was the third-fastest double-double in NBA history
Efficiency at Its Peak: He was a relentless force, shooting 17-of-27 from the field and adding three blocks to his tally. He punctuated the night with a thunderous one-handed slam midway through the fourth quarter that sent the Bulls’ defense into a full retreat.
The Supporting Cast: Rookie sensation Stephon Castle continued his own surge toward Rookie of the Year honors, flirted with a triple-double of his own with 21 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds.

The MVP Case: The “Wemby” Argument

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the MVP race is a dead heat between Wembanyama and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 47 points for the Thunder on the same night. However, Wembanyama’s case has become impossible to ignore:

Two-Way Dominance: Wembanyama isn’t just scoring; he is currently leading the league in blocks (3.1 per game) and anchoring a Spurs defense that ranks in the top three in net rating since the All-Star break.
Team Success: The Spurs have won 24 of their last 26 games. A team that was in the lottery hunt a year ago is now sitting at 57–18, breathing down the neck of the Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The “Unicorn” Factor: NBA.com’s latest MVP Ladder officially moved Wembanyama into the No. 1 spot last week. Analysts argue that his combination of historic defensive impact and offensive efficiency (50.5% FG) on a winning team makes him the most valuable singular force in the league.

What They’re Saying

“He’s transforming into a historic defender in such a short period of time. He’s different in that he entered the league with solid instincts and, coupled with his size, he’s making a massive impact here in just his third season.”

— Shaun Powell, NBA.com

The Final Stretch

The Spurs head to Golden State on Wednesday for a high-stakes matchup with the Warriors. If Wembanyama can maintain this level of production through the final seven games, he is poised to become one of the youngest MVPs in NBA history, potentially joining the elite company of Wes Unseld and Derrick Rose.