Age and inexperience didn't matter on a night where Victor Wembanyama was the best player on the court.
The 19-year-old finally revealed a full picture worth salivating over Thursday by producing his most complete game to date in spearheading a 132-121 drubbing of the Phoenix Suns.
Only Hall of Famer David Robinson scored more points in a game in his first season. Here are five takeaways from the matchup:
1. Victor Wembanyama takes over
Ducking his head to avoid the doorframe on the way out of the packed postgame interview room, Wembanyama stopped at his locker and gulped a long swig from a clear plastic bottle.
2. Wembanyama started fast, too Wembanyama reversed his trend of slow starts in the second game of this Spurs-Suns set, which started Tuesday with a 115-114 win.
3. Brilliant Devin Booker return spoiled Devin Booker returned and burned San Antonio as the catalyst for the Suns melting away a 27-point deficit
4. Varied experiences continue to mold young Spurs
San Antonio controlled most of its season-opening loss to Dallas before late-game execution and big plays from Luka Doncic doomed it down the stretch.
5. Popovich calls Walter Davis ‘one of the great ones’
News of the passing of former Phoenix Suns guard-forward Walter Davis reached Popovich on Thursday approximately 90 minutes just before tipoff.
A six-time NBA All-Star and the No. 5 overall pick of the Suns in 1977, Davis earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in his first season after averaging 24.2 points per game.