Victor Wembanyama Sidelined With Ankle Injury, Spurs Confirm

Victor Wembanyama Sidelined With Ankle Injury, Spurs Confirm...

The San Antonio Spurs announced Wednesday that rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama will miss at least two weeks with a right ankle sprain suffered during Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 7-foot-4 center landed awkwardly after contesting a shot in the third quarter and immediately limped to the locker room.

MRI results confirmed a moderate lateral ankle sprain, ruling out structural damage but requiring rehabilitation. The injury comes as Wembanyama was making a late-season push for Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in April. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters the team will "err on the side of caution" with their franchise player.

Basketball fans flooded social media with concern after seeing the No. 1 draft pick's painful exit from the game. Wembanyama had played in 74 consecutive games this season before the injury, defying preseason predictions about potential load management for his unique frame. The Spurs (19-63) have just three games remaining in their season.

Sports medicine expert Dr. Jessica Flynn of Houston Methodist Hospital explained that typical recovery timelines for similar ankle injuries range from 10-21 days. "For a player of his height, we'd want to ensure complete stability before returning to cutting movements," Flynn told The Associated Press.

The injury likely ends Wembanyama's remarkable rookie campaign, though he could still return for the season finale on April 13. Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren now appears to be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year honors after playing all 82 games for the playoff-bound Thunder.

Spurs fans expressed disappointment but relief that the injury wasn't more serious. Team officials confirmed Wembanyama will travel with the squad during their final road trip to maintain his conditioning routine. The French star had been on pace to become just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 3+ blocks per game.

Wembanyama's injury is trending nationally as basketball analysts debate its impact on both the Rookie of the Year race and the Spurs' offseason plans. The team holds a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick in next month's draft lottery as they continue their rebuild around the 20-year-old center.