With a season-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, Nikola Jokic helped the Nuggets defeat San Antonio 132-120 on Sunday night, spoiling Victor Wembanyama’s Denver debut and condemning the Spurs to their 12th consecutive defeat.

Wembanyama, the first pick in the June draft, became the first rookie with those stats after finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, six steals, and four blocks in 24 minutes.

“I enjoy adding fresh elements to the game,” he remarked. “I’m happy that I can already leave a small historical mark. It’s a pleasant sensation.”

San Antonio’s decline continued despite Wembanyama’s spectacular evening. In the history of the team, this is the third-longest losing run. In the 1988–89 campaign and the previous one, the Spurs suffered 16 consecutive losses.

Denver’s home record improved to 8-0 thanks to 20 points from Reggie Jackson and 25 from Michael Porter Jr. During their recent road trip, the Nuggets had lost four out of five games, including a Friday night loss to Houston that eliminated them from the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Regarding the subpar road play, Porter remarked, “We’re all kind of frustrated trying to figure out why we play so differently and at a different pace.”

Aaron Gordon, a forward for the Nuggets, missed all 12 of his field goal attempts in the game against the Rockets due to a right heel strain that was causing him discomfort. Gordon was replaced by Justin Holiday, who made his first start of the year.

Following the 1-4 road trip, Denver coach Michael Malone announced he would reorganize his starting lineup, which would mean DeAndre Jordan starting in place of Jokic. In the first half, the veteran scored six points, pulled down five rebounds, and made all three of his field goals.

Before San Antonio rallied to get within 12 points at halftime, the Nuggets led by four points at the end of the first quarter and by 68-48 late in the second. Denver outscored the Spurs 33-17 the remainder of the third quarter to take a 23-point lead into the fourth. The Spurs started the fourth on a 7-2 run.

In the second half, Wembanyama soared to the basket and was fouled by Julian Strawther, preventing a highlight dunk.

According to Malone, “a lot of guys are getting out of the way.” “People are afraid of getting dunked on on SportsCenter. Victor Wembanyama is going to make a lot of people look foolish. That guy is an incredible player who will only get better.

Victor Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft

For months, Victor Wembanyama was the clear favorite to be selected first overall in the NBA Draft—a procedure that is frequently unpredictable.

Nevertheless, butterflies started to appear as the clock above the stage he was facing descended to zero.

Wembanyama remarked, “Longest five minutes of my life.”

On Thursday night, the Spurs acquired the 19-year-old French player, who comes with high expectations to become the next big thing in basketball. Cheers of “Wemby! Wemby!” from a cluster of Spurs supporters holding signs from the front row of the Brooklyn Barclays Center.

Wembanyama has a lot more height and anticipation than most first-choice selections. In his last season in the French league, he led all players in scoring, rebounds, and blocked shots. He was listed at 7 feet, 4 inches.

He now enters the NBA, arguably the best prospect to enter since 2003, when LeBron James graduated from high school. Wembanyama, who is a center-sized player with guard-like shooting and ball-handling skills, brings a skill set that seems too extensive for a single player and ideal for the modern NBA.

He hugged his siblings and sobbed as he exited the stage while wearing his Spurs cap. Later, he made fun of how fast he was given a white-and-black No. 1 jersey with his name on the back.

He claimed that “someone knew this was happening somehow.”

Almost everybody did.

For the brief time he was present, Wembanyama sat in the center of the green room and was the focus of attention during the draft process. When young admirers cried out, “Victor! He even encouraged someone toss him a basketball, which he signed and threw back up into the stands as he made his way around the arena.

Wembanyama established himself as the top pick in this draft during a two-game series between teams led by Henderson in October of last year in Las Vegas. He scored 37 and 36 points in front of scouts and some opponents in the future. During the previous season, basketball fans couldn’t miss his highlights, which included a follow-dunk after he missed his own 3-point shot.

The Spurs have not had a No. 1 pick since Tim Duncan in 1997, which resulted in a run of five NBA titles through 2014 before their recent struggles. Wembanyama is the team’s third overall selection.

After playing collegiate basketball for only two years, Andrea Bargnani in 2006, he became the first international player drafted first overall. This ended a 13-year streak in which a college freshman was selected first. The last player to finish at No. 1 who wasn’t a one-and-done was Blake Griffin in 2010.

Henderson was once thought to be the most likely No. 2 pick, but Miller overtook him following the Crimson Tide’s incredible season. Nonetheless, the 19-year-old feels that his two years of NBA minor league experience have better prepared him for success in the NBA.

“Of the players in the draft, I’m the most prepared. I say that,” Henderson remarked. “I learned so much just by going there for two years.” Several things off the court, but also a lot on the court.