Injuries remain the only thing that can slow down Victor Wembanyama.
The San Antonio Spurs superstar center is expected to miss the next few weeks due to a left calf strain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The injury occurred during San Antonio’s Friday matchup against the Golden State Warriors. He was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings but was ruled out before tipoff.
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the next few weeks due to a left calf strain. NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs aren’t taking any risks with the health of their franchise superstar, who underwent an MRI exam on Sunday and will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
“Obviously, we’ve seen around this league recently, the calf-tightness thing is not something you want to take lightly,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Sunday. “Don’t want to push it there.”
Wembanyama, 21, got off to an electric start in his third NBA season. Through 12 games, the former first overall pick averaged 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, four assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game (the next closest is a three-way tie at 2.2).
The 7-foot-4 unicorn anchored a surging Spurs squad that owns a 9–4 record — good for fifth in the West — and boasts a solid sixth-ranked net rating on defense.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama dunks over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on Friday, Nov. 14. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Seemingly a shoo-in to take home the Defensive Player of the Year Award — and surely making an early case for MVP — Wembanyama now teeters on the brink of losing his award candidacy for the second-straight year.
The French phenom, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last year, could miss 10 games if sidelined for three weeks, once again constricting his wiggle room to fulfill the NBA’s 65-game eligibility requirement for individual awards.
Wembanyama would only be allowed seven more absences to stay in the running, which becomes incredibly troublesome when factoring in the typical ramp up period for players returning from calf injuries — often limiting participation in back-to-backs.
The Spurs, looking to hold down the fort in Wembanyama’s absence, host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.