Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama did not return for the second half of Monday night’s game between the Spurs and 76ers. Early in the second quarter, Wemby collided with Philadelphia’s Paul George at the half-court line. Victor initially exited the game and headed off court, but returned toward the end of the first half.
His return, which Head Coach Mitch Johnson referred to as “a positive,” got him over the fifteen minute mark, making the game count toward his NBA award eligibility.
While players
are required to play in 65 games for at least 20-minutes per game, a fifteen-minute exception can be made in what is called a “near miss” game, in which a player can count a maximum of two games where they play between 15-20 minutes.
Wemby still needs one more game to maintain eligibility for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA teams.
Despite the Spurs playing without their All-Star bog man, they held the 76ers at arms length and won the 60th game of the season. This is the eighth time the Spurs have won 60 or more games in a season. In addition, they are the fourth team in NBA history to have a 60-win season after winning less than 35 games the previous season.
In his postgame press conference, Head Coach Mitch Johnson stated he had not been briefed on the severity of Wemby’s condition.
While recovery timelines for a rib contusion vary, it is normal to take 2-6 weeks depending on the severity.
With the playoffs scheduled to begin in less than two weeks, Wembanyama’s timeline will have a direct effect on the Spurs. Check back for updates.
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