'Nerf Hoop,' Wemby 'Brilliant' with Historic Box Score in Win vs. Warriors, Says Steve Kerr

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr believes Victor Wembanyama is displaying "unbelievable confidence" as the San Antonio Spurs big man mounts a late MVP charge.

"He looks like he knows exactly what to do on both ends," Kerr told reporters after Golden State's 127-113 loss. "His first couple years, he looked young at times. He doesn't look young anymore. He just looks like he knows exactly what he's doing. Dominated the glass. There's plays you can't do anything. Several lobs where it looked like a Nerf hoop. He's brilliant."

Wembanyama finished with 41 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 29 minutes on the floor.

Spurs-Warriors Highlights

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The 7'4" center has gone five straight games with at least 15 rebounds. Among Spurs players, only Dennis Rodman put together a longer such streak.

Having already clinched the division, the Spurs (58-18) are just two games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference. Wembanyama, meanwhile, is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks.

Those two things are combining to put the two-time All-Star in the MVP hunt, and that's something he's passionate about.

"I do care deeply about it," he said to SportsCenter's Scott Van Pelt. "I think that of the greats that are in the Hall of Fame — or the best of all time — they have fought and grabbed everything they could grab early on in their career. If I want to make my spot among the greats, I got to try to not miss any occasion to put my name up there."

Regardless of whether Wembanyama is crowned the MVP or the Spurs go on a deep playoff run, both are generally on track of fulfilling the ambitions everyone had the moment San Antonio won the 2023 NBA draft lottery.

That's a scary thought for everyone else in the West.