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San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama returned to the court for Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night after being placed in concussion protocol following Game 2.
Wembanyama said he was disappointed with how the concussion protocol was handled, but did not elaborate.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts after a play during the second half of Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Oregon on April 26, 2026. (Jenny Kane/AP)
“The way the situation was handled was very disappointing,” he told reporters. “I’m not saying not playing was a good or bad decision. It was a decision, I’m not saying it was a good or bad decision. But the way the situation was handled is very disappointing.”
He was injured during the first half of the Spurs’ 106-103 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He did not return to the game and traveled to Portland while continuing the process to be cleared for Game 4.
“I won’t go into details. I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again after the season is over,” Wembanyama said.
He scored 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and served up seven blocks in the Spurs’ 114-93 victory on Sunday. The team announced that Wembanyama would be able to play about an hour before kickoff.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Portland Trail Blazers guard Sidy Cissoko guard a rebound during the second half of Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoffs in Portland, Oregon, April 26, 2026. (Jenny Kane/AP)
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The 7-foot-4 unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game during the regular season.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said the team was prepared to play without Wembanyama if he was not cleared.
“Luckily, we have a little bit of experience preparing for a variety of lineups and rotations,” Johnson said before the game. “I think the guys really empowered us as a team, I would say, throughout the season, to be able to have a brand and an identity regardless of availability.”
Players like Wembanyama who are diagnosed with concussion must pass a series of criteria before being cleared to play. The results are compared to baseline neurological assessments that players complete at the start of the season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama watches the first half of Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Oregon on April 26, 2026. (Jenny Kane/AP)
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Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in San Antonio.
