Eight games into his first NBA season, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is set to take the floor at Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. And while the rising star has played on a number of big stages throughout his career, MSG might be the biggest.
Is there any more you can ask for than the world's most intriguing rookie at the world's most famous arena?
On a nightly basis, Wembanyama continues to find different ways to wow the thousands of fans in attendance and the millions watching worldwide. Now, he's set to take the floor in the big city under the theatre lighting with an onlooking crowd filled with A-list celebrities and basketball purists alike.
If there's anything we've learned about Wembanyama, it's that he's prepared for the moment.
Ahead of Wembanyama's first game at Madison Square Garden, revisit some of the most impressive MSG debuts from some of the game's most notable stars — and a rising star.
MORE: Wembanyama is showing he is already one of the top defenders in the NBA | This Wembanyama play is impossible to guard
Best Madison Square Garden debuts of NBA players
Magic Johnson
Feb. 5, 1980 — Lakers 116, Knicks 105
- 19 points
- 11 assists
- 10 rebounds
By February of his rookie season, fans were accustomed to the types of magic that Johnson would carry out on a nightly basis. A showman in every sense of the word, Johnson finished with a triple-double that powered a Lakers victory.
Michael Jordan
Nov. 8, 1984 — Bulls 121, Knicks 106
- 33 points
- 8 rebounds
- 5 assists
- 3 steals
- 2 blocks
Seven games into his rookie season, it was clear that Jordan would be special. He finished with 33 points (on 15-of-22 shooting) in Bulls win. It was the second time Jordan scored 30-plus points as a rookie and he'd do it 31 more times after.
Wembanyama's MSG debut will come 39 years to the date of Jordan's.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Feb. 14, 1985 — Rockets 113, Knicks 105
- 30 points
- 25 rebounds
- 3 blocks
- 3 steals
There's a lot to love about Olajuwon's debut, which fell on Valentine's Day. The Dream's 30 points came on 10-of-20 shooting, 15 of his 25 rebounds came on the offensive end and he completed his masterpiece with three blocks, three steals and a win.
David Robinson
Jan. 13, 1990 — Knicks 107, Spurs 101
- 27 points
- 6 rebounds
- 2 blocks
- 2 steals
Robinson was not your typical rookie, entering the league at 24 after two years of military service. In his first-ever game at Madison Square Garden, The Admiral scored 27 points on tidy 12-of-20 shooting, the type of performance that helped him win Rookie of the Year.
Allen Iverson
Nov. 12, 1996 — Sixers 101, Knicks 97
- 35 points
- 7 rebounds
- 6 assists
- 2 steals
Six games into his rookie year, Iverson looked nothing like a rookie, stuffing the stat sheet in a win over a solid Knicks team that would win 57 games that season.
Tim Duncan
March 31, 1998 — Spurs 95, Knicks 78
- 25 points
- 10 rebounds
- 2 blocks
- 1 steal
Madison Square Garden is an important building for Duncan, who, one month prior to making his NBA debut, made his NBA All-Star Game debut at The Mecca of Basketball. 16 months after playing his first regular season game in NYC, Duncan and the Spurs won their first-ever championship there.
LeBron James
Feb. 22, 2004 — Cavaliers 92, Knicks 86
- 22 points
- 5 rebounds
- 3 assists
James' storied history at Madison Square Garden began with a Sunday matinee during his rookie year. While the hype reached astronomical levels, James remained poised to lead the Cavs to victory.
Chris Paul
Jan. 21, 2006 — Hornets 109, Knicks 98
- 27 points
- 13 assists
- 7 rebounds
Playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb, Paul shot 6-of-13 from the field, sank 14 of his 17 free throw attempts, dished out 13 assists and pulled down seven rebounds to impress Hall of Famer Larry Brown, head coach of the Knicks at the time.
Kevin Durant
Dec. 12, 2007 — SuperSonics 117, Knicks 110
- 30 points
- 5 rebounds
- 4 assists
Durant put forth an efficient performance in New York, scoring 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting to lead Seattle to a seven-point win.
Josh Giddey
Feb. 14, 2022 — Thunder 127, Knicks 123 (OT)
- 28 points
- 12 assists
- 11 rebounds
Giddey is one of six rookies to record a triple-double at Madison Square Garden, joining a list that also includes Johnson, Michael Carter-Williams, Chuck Person, Oscar Robertson (twice) and Ben Simmons.
