After two injury-riddled seasons, expectations were high for Victor Wembanyama to finally justify his "once-in-a-lifetime" talent, and it looks like the 7'4" phenom has decided to do so since the opening game of the 2025-26 season. In the San Antonio Spurs ' game against the star-studded Dallas Mavericks , the Frenchman dropped 40 points and 15 rebounds in just 30 minutes of action, single-handedly carrying his team to a dominant 33-point win.
As impressive as Wemby's performance was, it only allowed analyst Skip Bayless to mock the Mavs ' defense by drawing parallels with the Dallas Cowboys' defense.
Interestingly, comparison wasn't just for laughs; it seems like there is some factual truth behind it. There was a time when the Cowboys' defense was the biggest part of their identity, but now that has become their most vulnerable aspect, as evidenced by them ranking near the bottom in total yards, rushing yards and passing yards allowed.
Similarly, the Mavs, who were expected to be one of the best defensive teams due to their frontcourt lineup of Anthony Davis , PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II. But, in reality, Wembanyama was enough to dismantle them alone. He not only outperformed them but also made sure to keep each of them in foul trouble.
As a result, Bayless was stunned to see how a single player was able to turn the Mavs' biggest expected strength into a weakness. Even though it is only one game, the signs of Wembanyama's unlimited potential were on full display in this one.
"Wemby turned the Mavericks' defense into the Cowboys defense," Bayless wrote on social media after the game.
That being said, as impressive as Wembanyama and the Spurs were, it is worth remembering that they are still a young team. Moreover, the Mavericks' humiliating loss also came with the Spurs missing De'Aaron Fox, which only makesthe entire picture look even worse.
Looking ahead, the Mavs have their next couple of games against teams like the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors , contests that will only give them an opportunity to find the right combination, camaraderie and regain rhythm. After all, there's no point having a big lineup if one player can completely dismantle it.
So while Skip had his fun mocking the Mavs, coach Jason Kidd's team needs to shake this one off fast. If they treat it as just a rough opening night against a freakishly talented opponent and focus on building their chemistry, they'll be fine. However, they need to take down the notes so that mistakes are not committed, especially when the Spurs could be one team that they could battle it out against to secure a playoff spot in this season's standings.
Nevertheless, will the iconic Mavs frontline be able to bounce back and showcase why they're the primary reason for their championship contention? Remains to be seen if Dallas has enough time to set their chemistry straight before heading onto the road in the first week of November.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
