San Antonio Spurs officials announced that star center Victor Wembanyama will sit out Friday evening’s playoff matchup in Portland as he continues working through the NBA’s concussion protocol following an injury sustained earlier this week.
The 7-foot-4 French sensation, who became the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and earned consideration for MVP honors, suffered the injury during the second quarter of Tuesday evening’s contest and was unable to continue playing.
The Trail Blazers capitalized on Wembanyama’s absence to secure a 106-103 victory in San Antonio, evening the first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
“Victor is not playing tonight. Obviously there’s a lot that goes into that, but he’s doing well and progressing,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters.
Despite being initially listed with questionable status for Friday’s contest, Wembanyama made the trip to Portland with his teammates Thursday afternoon while still completing the required steps outlined in the league’s head injury protocols.
The NBA’s concussion guidelines require players to meet specific criteria before receiving medical clearance to return to action. These assessments are measured against neurological baseline tests administered to all players before each season begins.
Should Wembanyama’s absence extend beyond Friday’s game, it would represent a significant setback for San Antonio, which posted the NBA’s second-best regular season record largely due to the versatile big man’s contributions. The team managed a 12-6 record during regular season games without their franchise cornerstone.
This season, Wembanyama posted impressive numbers across all statistical categories, averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest while adding 3.1 assists and leading the league with 3.1 blocked shots per game. The young star was present Wednesday night when the team celebrated teammate Keldon Johnson’s Sixth Man of the Year award, with players sporting cowboy hats during the surprise announcement.
