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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs lies on the court in the second half against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on December 31, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
In a positive update for the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has avoided any ligament damage after hyperextending his knee in Wednesday’s 134-132 victory over the New York Knicks.
On the flipside, Wemby, who has already missed 12 of the Spurs’ 33 games, can afford to miss only five more games to maintain eligibility for All-NBA, All-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, Wemby did not travel with the Spurs for Friday’s away game against the Indiana Pacers and is unlikely to suit up against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. If Wemby were to miss both games, he’d be dangerously close to losing eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards and accolades.
Latest Wemby Injury Update
“Victor Wembanyama’s MRI today came back clean, no ligament damage,” Wright reported on X.
“He didn’t make the trip to Indianapolis so he can get more care here in San Antonio. He’ll likely be listed questionable for Saturday against Portland, per source.”
Wright added that the Spurs didn’t want their franchise star to travel to Indiana so they could treat him at their own facility.
“…Team officials want him to take advantage of the treatment options available at Victory Capital Performance Center, sources said,” Wright wrote.
The Spurs insider confirmed that Wemby is unlikely to miss a lot of time.
“Sources told ESPN that he will be listed as questionable for Saturday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers and is considered day-to-day as he deals with left knee soreness.”
Wemby Mindful of 65-Game Rule
Even if Wemby were to return for Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the odds of him reaching the 65-game threshold for awards are next to impossible.
The Spurs have historically been cautious about the workload of their star players, dating back to the days of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. If history is any indication, Wemby will likely sit out a bunch of games in March and April, especially once the Spurs secure a playoff berth. And between now and then, it would be optimistic to presume Wemby will maintain a clean bill of health given his history.
Even the 7-foot-5 phenom realizes he’s in a race against time to maintain eligibility for awards. Earlier this week, Lequipe’s Maxime Aublin asked Wemby his thoughts on potentially missing out on the 65-game threshold for a second consecutive year.
“I don’t dislike that rule,” Wemby said.
“And yes, of course it’s in my mind, even if it’s not the first thing I think about. But I also know the Spurs medical staff will do their job regardless of that. That’s what we expect from them, and they’re very good at staying objective.”
Last year, Wembanyama was primed to win Defensive Player of the Year and make his first All-NBA Team before being ruled out after 46 games with a life-threatening blood clot issue. The 21-year-old is averaging 24.3 points, 11.7 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.9 blocks in his third season, leading the Spurs to the second seed in the West.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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