The San Antonio Spurs will be without their franchise centerpiece for the next few weeks. Victor Wembanyama is sidelined with a left calf strain that will keep him off the court for two to three weeks, ESPN reported Monday. The 7-foot-3 sensation underwent an MRI after sitting out Sunday’s 123-110 victory over Sacramento.
The Spurs aren’t taking any chances with their young star.
“We’ve seen around this league recently (that) the calf-tightness thing is not something you want to take lightly,” head coach Mitch Johnson said Sunday. “Don’t want to push it there.”
The timing stings. Wembanyama was dominating through San Antonio’s first 12 games, averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per night. He played 38 minutes Friday in a heartbreaking 109-108 loss to Golden State, staying on the court until the final buzzer in NBA Cup play.
This isn’t the Frenchman’s first injury setback. He appeared in 71 games during his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2023-24. Last season, deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder limited him to just 46 games.
The Spurs showed they can survive without him Sunday. Veteran center Luke Kornet stepped into the starting lineup and delivered a perfect performance—13 points on 5-of-5 shooting with 11 rebounds. The depleted roster rallied to improve to 9-4, the franchise’s best start in years.
But the road ahead gets tougher. San Antonio hosts Memphis on Tuesday and Atlanta on Thursday before hitting the road for four games, including crucial NBA Cup matchups against Portland and Denver.
For Spurs fans, the wait begins. Wembanyama will be reevaluated in two to three weeks, with the team prioritizing long-term health over short-term wins. The franchise that once carefully managed Tim Duncan’s minutes knows patience pays off.
The question now: Can San Antonio stay afloat until their cornerstone returns?