Late in the first half of the San Antonio Spurs’ season-opening 125-92 blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Victor Wembanyama faced off against P.J. Washington. He executed a fake shot that left Washington off balance. What followed was an athletic feat that seemed almost unreal.

A towering 7-foot-5 player made a dribble before soaring into a cradling, up-and-under, nearly double-pump reverse dunk … amidst defenders … on the opposite side of the basket.

“A figment of our basketball imaginations!” exclaimed ESPN’s play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco, and those words perfectly captured the extraordinary moment. It was a fitting description for a player who might be on his way to greatness.

Watch the moment here:

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA 🤯
Watch Spurs-Mavs on ESPN and the ESPN App. pic.twitter.com/k2olCwEGBI — ESPN (@espn) October 23, 2025

Such terms as “unbelievable” are often casually used in the NBA but in this instance, it truly was astounding. In fact, Wembanyama’s entire performance was remarkable. He finished with 40 points, hitting 15 of his 21 attempts, alongside 15 rebounds, three blocks, and was a game-high plus-31 in just 29 minutes of play.

Wembanyama achieved a significant milestone as the first player since the 1977-78 NBA/ABA merger to score 40 points and grab 15 rebounds while shooting 70% from the field and recording zero turnovers.

But the stats alone don’t do justice to what unfolded on the court. Wembanyama’s performance represented an evolution in athletic prowess, akin to a giant effortlessly overpowering defenders, made it look simple to seize and score against opponents like Anthony Davis, the noted defensive powerhouse who struggled to contend with Wembanyama, racking up fouls trying to keep pace.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IS COOKING ANTHONY DAVIS
pic.twitter.com/VN3Yrw0pfy — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 23, 2025

This performance raises questions whether Wembanyama can sustain this level of play, but given his physical attributes paired with skill, many believe it’s only a matter of time before he establishes himself as the premier player in the league. At the tender age of 21, what he has shown is simply extraordinary.