Victor Wembanyama just dropped one of the craziest stat lines you’ll ever see, putting up a ridiculous 52 points, 24 rebounds, and eight blocks in a 112-111 win over Dallas last Wednesday. But get this: after that magnificent, history-making performance, he didn’t even keep the game ball! Nope, he handed it straight to head coach Mitch Johnson in the locker room.
More Than Just Numbers: The Heart of a Superstar
Seriously, Wembanyama’s stat line that night was straight-up legendary. Fifty-two points, 24 rebounds, eight blocks, all in one game? That’s insane! The kid joined Wilt Chamberlain as the ONLY players in NBA history to hit 50-plus points, 20-plus rebounds, and eight-plus blocks in a single outing. We’re talking about all-time greatness already, and he’s only 22!
But the real shocker came after the final buzzer. Instead of hogging the spotlight, Wembanyama presented that historic game ball to Mitch Johnson, honoring his coach for hitting 100 career wins. The humility is off the charts. He didn’t even wait for a moment, just immediately gave it up. “I haven’t checked the data, but it’s got to be up there with one of the fastest hundred wins. We’re all just proud of him and he deserves it,” Wembanyama said later, after he posted another monster night of 30 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks in a 124-109 triumph over the Kings on Friday. Teammates were buzzing about it. Dylan Harper summed it up perfectly: “It just shows the type of person he is. A player of that stature could be very self-centered. He could be very to himself, but he pours into us and he pours into the team, the coaching staff, the whole organization. And that’s a testament to how he grew up, his family and just who he is as a person.” You love to see it.
Coach Johnson’s Rocket Ship Ride to 100 Wins
The whole league is watching Wembanyama, but Mitch Johnson’s journey to 100 wins is a story in itself. Coach Johnson, who’s 39, called Wemby’s gift “one of the many examples of how team-oriented” the superstar has been since day one. He knows it’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re watching such raw, individual talent explode onto the scene.
Johnson’s been with the Spurs since 2016, starting as a G League assistant. He then worked under the legendary Gregg Popovich. When Pop suffered a stroke in November 2024, Johnson stepped up as the acting head coach, guiding the team to a 32-45 record through a really tough season. By May 2025, after Popovich officially retired, Johnson was named the head coach. He absolutely crushed it last season, leading the team to a stunning 62-20 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the West, and taking them all the way to the NBA Finals where they fell in five games to the New York Knicks. Now, they’ve started *this* season (2026-27) red hot at 7-2, riding a seven-game winning streak. Wembanyama even questioned if Johnson’s 100 wins was one of the fastest ever. For the record, Tom Thibodeau hit 100 in just 130 games with Chicago back in 2012, with Avery Johnson (131), Red Auerbach (135), and Jon Kundla (138) also high on that list. Still, what Johnson has done in such a short time is just unreal.
This whole vibe, with your undeniable superstar putting the focus on the coach, after *his* historic night, tells you everything you need to know about this squad. They’re clicking, they’re unselfish, and they’re looking like a force. If they keep this kind of chemistry, this team is going to be a problem for everyone else in the league all season long. Watch out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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