The San Antonio Spurs are still awaiting clarity on Victor Wembanyama’s injury status, but early signs suggest the issue may not be serious as the regular season winds down.
Wembanyama is listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a rib contusion. Despite the designation, there is growing confidence that the Spurs star will return before the end of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is listed doubtful to play in Wednesday’s game against Portland due to a rib contusion, but there’s confidence he will play at least one of the team’s final three regular-season games,” Charania wrote on X.
Victor Wembanyama Suffers Injury in Spurs Win Over 76ers
Wembanyama suffered the injury during Monday’s 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers after colliding with Paul George in transition.
He briefly returned to the game but exited again before halftime and did not play in the second half.
Wembanyama finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks in 15 minutes before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game that the team had not yet received a full update on the injury but viewed his brief return as a positive sign.
Tests Show Encouraging Results for Wembanyama
According to Charania, initial imaging has provided optimism.
“I’m told the Spurs are not anticipating this to be a major injury,” Charania said on NBA Today earlier in the day. “He underwent X-rays last night and those returned negative.”
Wembanyama is expected to undergo additional testing, but the early outlook suggests the injury is not expected to sideline him long-term.
That has fueled optimism that he could return during the team’s final stretch of games.
Spurs Expect Victor Wembanyama Back Before the End of the Regular Season
The Spurs have three games remaining:
- Wednesday, April 8 vs Portland
- Friday, April 10 vs Dallas Mavericks
- Sunday, April 12 vs Denver Nuggets
While Wembanyama is unlikely to play on Wednesday, there is confidence he will appear in at least one of their last games.
That timeline could prove important as the Spurs evaluate his health heading into the offseason. The Spurs are guaranteed to finish no lower than No. 2 in the Western Conference and will have one week off before the first round of the playoffs as they await their opponent from the play-in tournament, giving Wembanyama more time to rest.
Victor Wembanyama’s Season and Award Stakes
Wembanyama has been one of the league’s most dominant two-way players this season, averaging 24.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.
He is widely considered the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and remains in the conversation for MVP honors.
To maintain eligibility for postseason awards, Wembanyama must log at least one game of 20 minutes among the Spurs’ remaining contests.
That requirement adds another layer of importance to his potential return before the regular season concludes.
Spurs Take Cautious Approach With Star’s Health
With the long-term outlook in mind, San Antonio is expected to take a cautious approach with its franchise cornerstone.
Even with optimism surrounding the injury, the team is unlikely to rush Wembanyama back without full medical clearance.
For now, the focus remains on monitoring his recovery and determining which of the final three games provides the best opportunity for his return.
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