Zach Edey out with injury, Santi Aldama found himself attacking and defending against Victor Wembanyama in the second half of the match against Spurs. A major challenge in every sense of the word, and the Spaniard succeeded brilliantly with a career best (29 points) and a very large victory (+28).
“It was huge for me! I think I had a few good matches in defense, but this was a personal challenge.” explains the Spaniard. “Wembanyama is one of the best NBA players, and we always want to respond to these kinds of duels.”
With his mobility, Santi Aldama gave the Frenchman a hard time, but he also hampered him in attack with his distant address and his technique.
The best sixth man of the year?
“If I think back to the first game, it was very different. With some guys, you're like, 'OK, I can shoot it, he's not going to hit it.' But with him, if you think like that, he still ends up blocking your shot. It's definitely very different because he can block shots from anywhere on the court. Since he helps a lot, I just try to sneak around him and find a small opening. »
Author of 5 of 12 3-pointers, the 6th man of the Grizzlies had started the evening with an “air ball”, but then, he confirmed that he was one of the best substitutes in the league. For Desmond Baneno doubt, he is the future winner of the “Sixth Man Award”.
“He can weigh in in lots of different ways… Whether it’s through his shots, his passes, his penetrations, or by defending on Wembanyama like tonight. It’s basketball that wins. Bravo to him! »
| Santi Aldama | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | M.E.M. | 32 | 11 | 40.2 | 12.5 | 62.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4.1 |
| 2022-23 | M.E.M. | 77 | 22 | 47.0 | 35.3 | 75.0 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 9.0 |
| 2023-24 | M.E.M. | 61 | 27 | 43.5 | 34.9 | 62.1 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 10.7 |
| 2024-25 | M.E.M. | 35 | 25 | 50.6 | 39.0 | 71.2 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 7.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 12.9 |
| Total | 205 | 22 | 46.0 | 34.5 | 69.5 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 9.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
