PORTLAND, Ore. — Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has received medical clearance to participate in Sunday’s fourth game of their opening playoff round matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, having successfully completed the NBA’s required concussion evaluation process.
The towering center, who made history as the league’s first unanimous selection for Defensive Player of the Year, was sidelined for Friday’s third game in Portland due to concussion protocol requirements. Despite his absence, San Antonio secured a decisive 120-108 victory, taking a 2-1 advantage in the series.
The French basketball sensation suffered his head injury during the opening half of Tuesday’s narrow 106-103 defeat against Portland.
While continuing his recovery process, Wembanyama made the trip to Portland and had been designated as questionable for Sunday’s contest until receiving final clearance.
In Wembanyama’s place during Game 2, Luke Kornet stepped into the starting lineup and contributed 14 points along with 10 rebounds. The Spurs received exceptional performances from Stephon Castle, who scored 33 points, and first-year player Dylan Harper, who recorded 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
The league’s concussion evaluation requires athletes to successfully complete multiple assessment stages before returning to competition. These test results are measured against neurological baseline measurements taken by players during preseason evaluations.
Behind the exceptional play of the versatile 7-foot-4 French center, San Antonio compiled the NBA’s second-highest win total this season. The team maintained a strong 12-6 record during regular season games played without their star player.
During the current campaign, Wembanyama posted averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and led the league with 3.1 blocks per contest.
