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Victor Wembanyama facing an MVP eligibility crisis after rib injury
The San Antonio Spurs are left to continue their final homestand of the season without Victor Wembanyama. And without Stephon Castle, for that matter.
San Antonio earned another double-digit home triumph in their last game Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Just before halftime of that game, Wembanyama exited to the locker room for the second time to get examined for an injury. The 22-year-old Spurs star was checked out again and then ruled out for the rest of the game.
GettySAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 6: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs grabs his left arm after an injury during game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 6, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
Wembanyama’s injury is being labeled a rib contusion. The MRI scan he received returned negative, and the Spurs are confident Wembanyama didn’t sustain anything more than a minor injury.
To avoid further injury trouble, the team ruled Wembanyama out for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Victor Wembanyama Receives Hopeful Return Date
Monday’s victory gifted the Spurs their first 60-win season in nearly a decade. The last time it happened, a pair of heirlooms from the dynasty days, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, were still in the silver and black.
It has been a stunning season for San Antonio after winning just 34 games a season ago. Such a turnaround has rarely been achieved in NBA history. But for the Spurs to translate this regular season success to the postseason, they’ll need their league MVP candidate in uniform at full strength.
At this juncture of the season, it is wise to play it safe with even the most marginal ailments. San Antonio is likely keeping Wembanyama out of tonight’s contest out of caution if it is true that his injury is not considered anything more than minor.
The team, however, does not intend to keep the star big man out for the final few games of the regular season. Yesterday, it was announced San Antonio holds confidence in Wembanyama playing in at least one of the final three games of the season. Today, the team gave an update concerning Wembanyama’s hopeful return timeline.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, “The Spurs are optimistic Wembanyama’s time on the shelf will be a short one. The team is “hopeful” Wembanyama will be back on the floor for Friday’s game against Dallas at the Frost Bank Center, a Spurs spokesman said.”
Health and Postseason Awards Eligibility are Almost Equal in Priority
The Spurs want nothing less than 100% healthy Wembanyama for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs. They also want to help carry out Wembanyama’s wish of earning postseason awards.
Wembanyama just needs to play at least 20 minutes in one more game to remain eligible for postseason awards. If he does that, he is almost certainly a lock to earn All-NBA First Team honors and the Defensive Player of the Year award. He also made a strong late-season push for the MVP, but a night of rest, a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday and the rib contusion have somewhat suppressed his case.
San Antonio is still mathematically capable of wresting the top seed from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and doing so would certainly make up for the lost ground in Wembanyama’s MVP case, but the Thunder need just one more win to clinch the best record in the Association.
For now, all eyes turn to Friday night’s game in Dallas, where Wembanyama could return and therefore make the rib contusion-induced absence quite short.
Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad
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