On Wednesday afternoon, Victor Wembanyama played the role of the Frenchman who tried to steal Christmas. His role comes a year after a poor performance in his Madison Square Garden debut just eight games into his NBA career: 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and a block. This Christmas, he returned to the Mecca of Basketball as a young superstar headlining a nationally-televised game with America watching. And he didn’t disappoint. Wembanyama first’s half numbers could’ve easily been mistaken for a full-game statline: 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He started the game with two quick blocks, one coming after the 7-4 alien dashed across the paint to swat OG Anunoby’s attempt at the rim in the first quarter. And with Karl-Anthony Towns as the primary defender, Wembanyama totaled 10 points in the first quarter alone. “He’s so skilled, it presents problems and it’s similar to what KAT does because you have to defend him all over the floor,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said postgame. “And oftentimes it’s transition, it’s scramble, and it’s a pitch back. And if you’re not alert or aware, sometimes your guards have to switch out on that.” He later went on to have a historic Christmas Day debut: 42 points, 18 rebounds, fours assists and four blocks. The otherworldly neophyte never shied away from dominating the game, knocking down 16-of-31 field goals, including 6-of-16 shooting from downtown. The performance made him the third player in NBA history to have 40 or more points in his Christmas Day debut, joining all-time greats Tracy McGrady and Wilt Chamberlain. He also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 15 rebounds, five three-pointers, and 4 blocks in a game. His contribution to the NBA’s Christmas Day lore, however, had yet to even cross his mind postgame. “It’s not my first thought at all,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t even know the history by heart of the best Christmas games in history.” The historic performance nearly overshadowed Mikal Bridges’ Knicks career-high of 41 points, which led to the Spurs’ 117-114 defeat. “I’m thinking about the game right now, and just thinking we’re close but lacked some attributes at times. We were right there. It was a really good game.” Just last year, the MSG crowd showered Wembanyama with boos and “overrated” chants during his debut on 8th Ave. It was excitement and cheers this time around with Wembanyama’s “unique” offensive skillset — as Thibodeau described it pregame — put the home team in nearly unguardable situations. On one possession in the first half, Wemby received the ball at the elbow with a much-too-small Josh Hart guarding him. As Deuce McBride sprinted across the court for a double-team — but not fast enough — Wemby turned the other way to drain a turnaround jumper like no defender was in front of him. Victor Wembanyama is up to 19 POINTS in just 14 minutes pic.twitter.com/R1AGp5UjGJ — NBA TV (@NBATV) December 25, 2024 Then he partnered with Hall of Fame teammate Chris Paul on a pick-and-roll that led to an easy layup and one of four made first-half trey seconds before the halftime buzzer. This offensive skillset looks scary for a 20-year-old just entering his second NBA season. And it leaves the NBA world wondering how an improved unicorn will torment defenses in the upcoming years. The rebounding, though, is already otherworldly. The task of boxing out a player with an 8-feet wingspan seemed too difficult for the Knicks, who are still without defensive anchor Mitchell Robinson. So for now, it was Towns who had to deal with Wemby in the paint. Towns, who stands at 7-feet, looked minuscule in the third quarter after Wembanyama rose above him for a one-handed snatch on Paul’s miss at the eight-minute mark. VICTOR WEMBANYAMA SKIES OVER KAT FOR THE OFFENSIVE REBOUND & DUNK! pic.twitter.com/D99Tt5SK4K — Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) December 25, 2024 The Parisian landed on both feet, then rose to the ceiling again for a slam that wowed a sold-out MSG crowd. Towns attempted to stay physical with the Frenchman, but not much could be done against the giant. “It depends on the physicality allowed. If the physicality is allowed, I think, possibly you could do some more stuff,” Towns said. “But also, you know, if someone just finds the potion somewhere to be, 7-5, 7-6, you’ll be solid.” The Knicks were on high alert with the unicorn entering MSG for the second time. He entered Christmas averaging four blocks per game after recording eight swats against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. He nearly recorded a triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers after scoring 30 points, seven rebound and 10 blocks last Saturday. On Wednesday, Brunson was victim to two highlight swats: one with Wemby feet away but using his wingspan to swat the opening trey in the first half and another on a floater attempt that was initially deemed goaltending. After official review, the block was deemed legal. With Brunson’s quick attempt close to the rim, it was a shot maybe only the French star could reach in time before the ball reached its apex. The full arsenal was on display and it almost ruined Christmas Day for a Knicks team looking to defend homecourt. But Thibodeau’s squad narrowly got by. And luckily for them, they’ll only have to see Wembanyana one more time this regular season.