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Knicks Face Tall Task in Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama leads the San Antonio Spurs to face the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Brener

Dec 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Dec 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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The New York Knicks are getting ready for their Christmas Day matchup as they take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

Wembanyama took the league by storm after being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, and he went on to take home Rookie of the Year honors.

Now, Wembanyama is under the Christmas spotlight, and he is ready to show the world what he's got.

"He can do everything," Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said via ESPN writer Michael C. Wright. "So, when you have that many options on the menu, to think you're going to pick the right one every time is tough. He's a young player that's learning how to use all the weapons that he has. There's obviously tremendous belief and great support for him as he learns when and where to utilize all those weapons."

So far this season, Wembanyama is averaging 24.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, setting himself up to be named to his first All-Star team in February.

In his last six games, Wembanyama has scored at least 20 points, and in the Spurs' win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, the second-year Frenchman had 30 points and 10 blocks for a double-double, which is something not even Wilt Chamberlain was able to do in his career.

Wembanyama poses a massive challenge for the Knicks, especially when it comes to protecting the rim, so New York will have to find a way to neutralize that threat. If the Knicks can do that, their chances of winning will increase.

The Spurs and Knicks are scheduled to tip off at 12 noon ET to start the NBA Christmas Day slate.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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