There were a few major storylines that came out of the San Antonio Spurs‘ 119-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but perhaps none more important than franchise star Victor Wembanyama going down with a knee injury after a first-quarter collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Wembanyama did return to the game and helped spark a run that eventually led to the Spurs’ blowout win. Yet still, the minor injury adds to an underlying storyline on the French center’s status and future as the face of the NBA.
Speaking after the game, Wembanyama said the injury wasn’t anything major, and though it differed from the number of falls he had against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to who the collision came against, it doesn’t appear to be anything hindering him going forward.
The franchise star finished the game with 22 points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes, and as mentioned, helped spark an eventual 39-point Spurs lead, of which they never gave up to hand Antetokounmpo and the Bucks their third-straight loss.
Giannis Antetokounmpo On Victor Wembanyama
While the collision between the two unicorns seemed to cause Wembanyama some initial pain, there didn’t seem to be any bad blood by the final whistle, as both talked with each other for a minute after the final buzzer, with their hands covering their mouths.
However, speaking to reporters postgame, Antetokounmpo did reveal some of the things he said to Wembanyama.
“I had the opportunity to speak to him after the game and as long as he stays healthy, he’s the future of this league. The sky’s the limit,” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s just gotta put his head down, work and just lead his team to win in games.”
Just like the Spurs’ star, the 2021 Finals MVP knows what it’s like coming into the league as a tall, skinny player with boatloads of potential. While it took Antetokounmpo a bit longer to develop into his full form, Wembanyama, when healthy, seems well on his way to becoming the face of the league, as seen with his one-of-a-kind moments on a seemingly night-to-night basis.
“He’s going to be in his final level and then it’s going to be a nightmare,” Antetokounmpo said. “Because I’m a competitor, I love playing against the best. I would love to see that final stage and face that final stage before I’m too old. You want to have it on your resume, you want to play the best.”
While Antetokounmpo made it clear that, if Wembanyama stays healthy, he has the chance to see a ton of success, as Jared Weiss and Eric Nehm of The Athletic wrote, the ‘ifs‘ and ‘as long as‘ comments stood out.
Wembanyama has a knack for falling, whether that be due to him trying to minimize the damage on his legs or just due to the contact he is taking; neither is a good outcome. That was on full display both against the Thunder and Bucks, and though he’s already missed a ton of time throughout his career with injuries, that might be a tough thing to change.
Victor Wembanyama Injury Update
Wembanyama had Spurs fans holding their breath when he went down in the first quarter after a collision with Antetokounmpo. However, he eventually returned, and according to the star himself, he doesn’t think that particular bump will cause any lasting concerns.
“I did not think it was serious because it was just knee to knee, and I’ve had this dozens of times, but never against a guy like [Antetokounmpo],” Wembanyama said. “It’s feeling well, better than I expected. I mean, it’s feeling well for this part of the season. Of course, sore from everywhere, just like everybody in the league…but actually I’m fine. It shows progress.”
There has been a constant of Wembanyama falling and hitting the court through the first two and a half seasons of his career. As mentioned, that could be due to his attempting to minimize the strain put on his lower body, but at the same time, the constant falls likely aren’t doing him any favors.
“I’ve always felt lucky that I’ve always had great instincts in this matter, and on the court in general, on how to place my body and protect it,” he added. “Sometimes, it’s going to hurt or something you’re going to have to do some things that feel counterintuitive, but it’s for the better.”
With their relatively similar frame, Antetokounmpo knows what the young French star is dealing with and believes, as time goes on, he’ll understand his body better and how to deal with collisions against runaway trains like himself.
“As you understand the game better, you get over yourself,” Antetokounmpo said. “You know your strengths, you know your weaknesses. You just try to play within your strength and then you become more efficient and you let the game come to you.”
For now, in what is good news for all, Wembanyama is not listed on the Spurs’ injury report.
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