As the NBA Playoffs approach next Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs are eager to revisit their successful past, where they clinched five championships between 1999 and 2014.
A big part of their recent playoff success has been Victor Wembanyama. He has emerged as a standout player this season, leading the NBA in blocks per game, while also achieving personal bests of 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds on average.
However, a rib contusion sustained during a game on Monday night raises concerns. This injury could jeopardize not only the rest of the regular season but also the upcoming playoffs, impacting his chances for the MVP title.
The NBA outlines a stipulation that a player must appear in 65 games to be eligible for individual honors like MVP and All-NBA teams. Notably, Wembanyama has been active since 1963, but this figure doesn’t incorporate playoff finals, which, despite not appearing on the statistical ledger, do count toward the MVP eligibility.
For Wembanyama, there’s some leeway. The league allows for up to two games where a player logs between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count towards the minimum of 65 games for award qualification. In fact, during Monday’s game, he recorded 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocks within just over 15 minutes of play before the injury struck.
During the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 6, with about 10 minutes left in the first half, Wembanyama inadvertently elbowed Paul George in the ribs while trying to engage in a fast break. Following the collision, he sat on the court for a brief moment, while George offered an apology by patting Wembanyama’s back.
Wembanyama promptly exited the game, making his way into the tunnel towards the locker room, visibly holding his side. He did return with about five minutes left in the half but eventually requested to leave the game again with just under a minute remaining in the half, heading back to the locker room once more.
As things stand, the Spurs hold a strong record of 60-19 but are trailing the current champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, by 2.5 games, securing their second-place position in the conference.
Looking ahead, the Spurs will be playing their last three games at home.
