Wembanyama Injury Update: Spurs Breathe a Sigh of Relief – “Nothing Serious”
Rib contusion for Wembanyama, nothing serious. The Spurs remain cautious, but his return is near and NBA awards are still within reach
The San Antonio Spurs can breathe a sigh of relief: Victor Wembanyama has avoided a serious injury. After the scare against the Philadelphia 76ers, the French big man’s condition is under control, although he remains questionable for the upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, there is confidence that the Spurs’ star will return before the end of the regular season.
Victor Wembanyama is listed as doubtful for the game against Portland due to a rib contusion, but there’s confidence he can play at least one of the final three games of the season
Shams Charania
Rib contusion for Wembanyama
The incident dates back to the second quarter of the win over Philadelphia, when Wembanyama was involved in a collision with Paul George. A heavy impact that immediately raised concerns about a more serious injury.
Tests conducted the following day ruled out structural damage: it’s a simple rib contusion, and the player is now considered day-to-day.
One key detail: in the game against the 76ers, the Frenchman logged just 15 minutes and 40 seconds – not enough playing time to count toward season awards eligibility.
NBA awards at risk? He needs at least one 20-minute game
This is where a crucial rule comes into play. To remain eligible for end-of-season honors – including Defensive Player of the Year and even the MVP – Wembanyama must play at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ final three games.
At the moment, the 2004-born star is considered the clear favorite for DPOY, while also being firmly in the MVP conversation.
The goal for the medical and coaching staff is clear: manage his recovery without risk, while ensuring he meets the minimum requirement to keep his award chances alive.
Spurs schedule: three games to close and chase the top seed
The Spurs (60-19) still have three games left:
- Portland Trail Blazers (home)
- Dallas Mavericks (home)
- Denver Nuggets (home)
San Antonio still holds a slim chance of catching the Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) for the top spot in the Western Conference. However, it would require a perfect finish and at least three losses in OKC’s final four games.