SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama, the star player for the San Antonio Spurs, has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol. This follows a tough fall during the second quarter of their playoff game against Portland, where he hit the court face-first.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson confirmed, “He has a concussion. He’s in the protocol. We’ll take the proper steps.” The Spurs lost that game 106-103, tying the series at one game each.
If Wembanyama misses time, it could seriously hurt the Spurs. He’s been a standout, contributing significantly to their success this season. In fact, San Antonio had the second-best record in the league, largely thanks to Wembanyama, who stands at an impressive 7 feet 4 inches.
According to NBA guidelines, a player in the concussion protocol must rest for at least 48 hours. They also must meet specific benchmarks without symptoms before returning to play, including passing neurological tests and getting approval from a team doctor.
The next game is on Friday in Portland, but it seems unlikely Wembanyama will be back in time. “The protocol is the protocol,” Johnson added. “We’ll just follow it.”
Without Wembanyama, other players must rise to the occasion. Spurs guard Devin Vassell noted, “We’ve played without him a couple of times this year. It’s the next man up mentality. We can’t dwell on it.”
The injury occurred when he was fouled by Jrue Holiday. Wembanyama fell hard, hitting his jaw on the floor with nearly nine minutes left in the quarter. He lay on the ground for about 30 seconds before sitting up and speaking to teammate Stephon Castle. Johnson called for a timeout, and Wembanyama left the court shortly after getting up.
In the short time he played, Wembanyama logged five points, four rebounds, one block, and one assist. Luke Kornet took his place in the second half, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.
“It was scary,” reflected Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter. He emphasized the need for the team to improve their game while Kornet is on the court.
This playoff season marks the Spurs’ first appearance since 2019. They had previously defeated Portland in Game 1, thanks in part to Wembanyama’s 35 points. However, without him, they lost a significant fourth-quarter lead, a situation not seen in the playoffs for the Spurs since 2003.
On a brighter note, Wembanyama recently received the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks throughout the season.
Vassell mentioned he hadn’t had a chance to check on Wembanyama right after the game, adding, “We’re just hoping for him to be okay.”
For more on the NBA, visit AP NBA.
Source link
Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs, Head injuries, Portland Pilots, OR State Wire, NBA, Texas, Oregon, TX State Wire, Portland Trail Blazers, Sports, Athlete injuries, Basketball, Mitch Johnson, Jrue Holiday, NBA basketball, Stephon Castle
