LeBron James, Lakers Beat Spurs as Anthony Davis-Wembanyama Battle Thrills NBA Fans
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVNovember 28, 2024
Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama is the future. At least on Wednesday night, however, LeBron James and Anthony Davis remained the present.
The pair of Los Angeles Lakers superstars led their team to a 117-99 win over Wemby’s San Antonio Spurs.
Davis (19 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists) and James (16 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) led the Lakers to their 11th win on the season (11-7), holding off a Spurs team that has been surprisingly good this year (10-9).
Wembanyama did his part to keep things interesting, posting 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, though rookie first-round pick Stephon Castle struggled from the field (10 points on 3-of-9 shooting, seven assists).
NBA @NBAWemby getting things started with a big block 🚫
LAL-SAS | NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/6TQ5KSkum6 pic.twitter.com/G74JMVlUJ7
NBA TV @NBATVWemby with the put back before the horn 😤 pic.twitter.com/POJyghqDBH
NBA @NBAWemby is too hard to guard 😤
LAL-SAS | NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/6TQ5KSjWwy pic.twitter.com/rpyXKzYdlO
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBAWemby scored on LeBron 👀 pic.twitter.com/4FIF4nkVds
It was a fun showdown nonetheless, with the battle between Wemby and the pair of Davis and James the main talking point for NBA fans and pundits alike:
Josiah Johnson @KingJosiah54LeBron and AD looking at Wemby pic.twitter.com/QrVLLlTJvp
Harrison Faigen @hmfaigenWemby is gonna be so unstoppable at some point lmao
The Lakers Chip @LakerschippLebron is 2nd guessing himself every drive because of Wemby
beast. @MARKELLisLiKEWemby a generational talent on the court fr
endless91 @endless913It’s so funny to me, and maybe one of the most impressive athletic feats of all time, that Lebron is still playing bully ball at 40 years old at a top 10 level.
Lebronto @thechukuLeBron said this 4th quarter is mine!
LeLakeShow🏁 @lelakeshowwLeBron closing this out. Thanksgiving here we come
k @offbrandszaAnthony Davis is a super human
Wembanyama still has plenty to work on, of course, some of which was evident on Wednesday night. His shot selection remains a work in progress, as he at times settles for too many deep threes (2-for-9 against the Lakers) rather than using his length to create mismatches on the block.
He’s also a work in progress as a creator, with two assists but four turnovers against the Lakers.
This is nitpicking, of course—the kid is 20 years old and already one of the most intriguing stars in the NBA. His upside is astronomical. James, one of the greatest basketball players to ever live, has said as much.
“He doesn’t have a ceiling,” James told reporters last season regarding Wembanyama. “He can do whatever he wants to do in his career. It seems like he enjoys the game. It seems like he puts the work in, just from the outside looking in. … I said a long time ago how special he was, and it’s really that simple.”
At some point, the NBA is going to be Wemby’s league, much as it has been LeBron’s for two decades now. Someday, but not on Wednesday night.
