Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points as the San Antonio Spurs started their season with a convincing 125-92 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Frenchman, making his first appearance in the regular season since undergoing surgery on his shoulder for deep vein thrombosis in February, recorded the fifth 40-point match of his career.
The 21-year-old’s performance overshadowed a nervous start from Cooper Flagg on his NBA debut.
The 18-year-old, the number one overall pick in the 2025 draft, became the second-youngest starter in NBA history behind LeBron James on his Mavs debut.
But the teenager struggled to impose himself, failing to score until the second half and finishing on 10 points.
Wembanyama, by contrast, had 21 points by half-time and displayed little rustiness after his eight-month absence.