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With the NBA playoffs set to begin next Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to relive their glory days of winning five titles between 1999 and 2014.
Victor Wembanyama was the main reason for the team’s return to playoff basketball, leading the NBA in blocks per game for the third time in as many seasons while averaging 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, both career highs.
However, the 7-foot-4 phenom not only suffered a rib contusion Monday night, putting him in jeopardy for the remainder of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but his MVP candidacy is also in jeopardy.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to an injury during the first half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortés/Getty Images)
The NBA states that players must play 65 games in order to receive votes for season awards such as MVP and All-NBA teams. However, Wembanyama played in ’63.
That number doesn’t include the NBA Cup Finals, which actually doesn’t count in the stat sheet, but the NBA does count it toward the season’s award total, which makes it just a little safer.
If Wembanyama wants to be named MVP, the NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player spends between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the league’s required minimum of 65 games played to be eligible for awards. Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half Monday.
Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers reaches out to injured Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortés/Getty Images)
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Wembanyama was inadvertently elbowed in the ribs by Paul George when the Philadelphia 76ers forward tried to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 Frenchman sprinted down the court during a fast break with 10:49 left in the first half. Wembanyama fell to the field and lay there for a minute while George patted his bottom apologetically.
Wembanyama removed himself from the game shortly after the collision and immediately headed towards the tunnel leading to the locker room while keeping his arm resting at his side.
He returned with 5:33 left in the period, but asked head coach Mitch Johnson to pick him off with 44 seconds left in the first half. He again entered the tunnel leading to the locker room with his arm at his side and was sent off early in the second half.
San Antonio (60-19) is 2.5 games behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (Rob Gray/AP)
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Each of the Spurs’ last three games has been at home.
