When Victor Wembanyama was an NBA rookie, the San Antonio Spurs center was projected to become one of the top players in the game.
He was looking as good as advertised in the league early on, playing stellar two-way ball.
When it came to scoring, Wembanyama achieved a notable stat as a teenager. He logged 14 games, where he scored at least 20 points before turning 20 years old. Wembanyama totaled 344 points that year.
The Spurs’ center tied the Hall of Famer Dwight Howard on that list.
Ace Bailey: Another Rookie To Pass Wembanyama
Recently, Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey passed Wembanyama on the same list.
The former Rutgers star picked up his 15th 20-point outing of the season. Heading into the final week of the 2025-2026 NBA season, Bailey has 360 total points during his rookie effort. He trailed Cliff Robinson and Zion Williamson.
The Rise Of Ace Bailey
Wembanyama and Bailey don’t have a similar upbringing to the NBA.
When the Spurs’ center was entering the league, he was the sure selection at No. 1 for whoever won the lottery. He didn’t come from an NCAA program, which generated even more curiosity about his future.
At this point, Wembanyama is living up to the early hype. Since 2023-2024, Wembanyama has averaged 23.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2024, and has been an All-Star over the past two seasons.
As for Bailey, his journey has been slightly different from what was expected. One year ago, Bailey was gaining some serious steam as a potential top-two selection out of Rutgers. As the 2025 NBA Draft inched closer, Bailey slid down the board.
It wasn’t a full-on shock-drop for Bailey. He slipped down to No. 5, where the Jazz selected him. He came after Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Kon Knueppel.
In 69 games, Bailey averaged 27.5 minutes of action. The rookie forward is shooting 44.4% from the field and hitting on 34.8% of his threes, producing 13.6 points per game. The veteran forward is coming down with 4.1 rebounds per game, and producing 1.8 assists per matchup.
Victor Wembanyama Passed by NBA Rookie Ace Bailey on Notable List