Victor Wembanyama will miss a game for the first time this season. The Spurs’ superstar was originally listed as questionable due to calf tightness in the injury report before being ruled out ahead of Sunday’s bout against the Kings.
Wembanyama started the first 12 games for the Spurs after missing 36 games last season due to being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. He’s looked fantastic early on, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists and leading San Antonio to the best start in franchise
history and a winning record. He’s been at the center of everything the team has done well on both ends, so not having him available is a tough blow.
It’s unclear whether his injury is serious at this point and whether it will lead to more absences. He wasn’t listed as out until hours before the game, so it’s possible the training staff wanted to wait to see how his body responded, but it’s possible the Spurs knew he’d sit out and didn’t want to give their opponent a heads-up. Calf injuries require caution, as they can lead to more serious issues, as Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton showed last season. If the discomfort persists, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wembanyama sidelined for a few games, but there’s not enough information currently to know for sure.
In Wembanyama’s absence, Luke Kornet and Jeremy Sochan should see their minutes and roles increase. Kelly Olynyk or Bismack Biyombo might make an appearance. Offensively, De’Aaron Fox will likely be the first option, while Stephon Castle will also likely see an increase in usage.
Wembanyama is averaging 26.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, four assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game this season.
