The San Antonio Spurs‘ crucial Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers could hinge on whether Victor Wembanyama is able to suit up.
The NBA’s newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year was officially listed as questionable in the Spurs’ injury report released Thursday, April 23. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m. ET) in Portland.
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Wembanyama left Game 2 of their first-round playoff series with a concussion after tripping while driving toward the basket against the Blazers’ Jrue Holiday and hitting his head on the court. The incident occurred with just under nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Wembanyama remained on the floor, then gathered himself and hurried to the locker room under his own power and was quickly evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that he had entered the league’s concussion protocol and would not return to the game.
Wembanyama finished with five points, four rebounds, and one assist in just 12 minutes of play.
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Since his NBA career started in 2023, the Spur phenom has suffered various injuries to his ankle and shoulder, among other places, but this is the first concussion.
“He has a concussion and he’s in the protocol, and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after Game 2.
Wembanyama was named the first unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, April 20.
Will Victor Wembanyama play in Game 3?
Wembanyama traveled with the Spurs to Portland for Games 3 and 4 this weekend, while continuing to abide by the NBA’s concussion protocol.
While San Antonio Coach Mitch Johnson said Thursday, April 23 that his star is “progressing,” Wembanyama’s status for Game 2 remains questionable.
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According the reports, Wembanyama was at the team’s practice facility Thursday, walking around in a black hoodie and gray sweatpants and got a few shots off.
What is the NBA’s policy on concussions?
According to the NBA’s concussion protocol, a player who sustains a head injury is not eligible to return to play for at least 48 hours from the time of diagnosis. However, after 24 hours, if the player’s symptoms have not worsened, they may gradually resume basketball activities under close supervision. Full clearance to return to game action is only granted after the player is symptom-free and receives approval from the team’s medical staff.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Johnson said, according to the Associated Press. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama injury update as Spurs star deals with concussion
