SUMMARY
- San Antonio Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama missed a game against the Dallas Mavericks due to an unexpected injury sustained during pregame warmups.
- The absence of Wembanyama was notable in the game against the Mavericks, resulting in a dominant 144-119 win for Dallas.
The San Antonio Spurs, rookie star Victor Wembanyama missed Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks after an unexpected injury during pregame warmups. The incident happened as Wembanyama was participating in a layup drill, during which he accidentally stepped on a ball boy’s foot and rolled his ankle.
Following the incident, Wembanyama, who had previously missed a game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to soreness in the same ankle, was taken to the locker room for immediate attention. The Spurs’ medical team decided to tape his ankle as a precautionary measure. However, he was ruled out of the game to prevent his condition from getting worse.
The Mavericks took advantage of the Spurs’ weak lineup, securing a dominant 144-119 win. Luka Doncic of the Mavericks was especially impressive, scoring a 39-point triple-double.
Wemby out for the game after stepping on Mavs employee during warmups 🚨 pic.twitter.com/fupZJCHTVP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 24, 2023
This loss added to the Spurs’ challenging season, as it was their 22nd in the last 23 games. Wembanyama, a key player in the team’s rebuilding efforts, has shown impressive stats this season, averaging 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The Spurs will face Utah Jazz in their next game.
Gregg Popovich Provides Injury Update on Victor Wembanyama
After the Spurs-Mavericks game, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich met with the media to provide an update on Victor Wembanyama’s condition. Popovich described the injury as a “freak accident” that occurred during the pregame warmup when Wembanyama stepped on a ball boy’s foot.
He stated that while Wembanyama might have been able to play, the decision to sit him out was more conservative, prioritizing his long-term health especially since it involved the same ankle that was recently injured.
“He was warming up and he came down on the ball boy’s foot and tweaked his ankle again. Maybe he could have played, he probably could have played; if it was a playoff game, I probably would have played him. He’s not happy about it, but I would rather air on the conservative side since it’s the same ankle that he just got a time limitation on. Just a freak, freak accident before the game” Popovich said on Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, who has played in 25 games this season, has been a key player for the Spurs, averaging impressive numbers. His injury is a major setback for the team, which is positioned at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 4-24 record. Currently, the Spurs’ have a four-game losing streak and only one win in their last ten games.
The Spurs team and fans are eagerly waiting for further medical evaluations to find out the seriousness of Wembanyama’s injury. The hope is that the sprain is not severe and that he can return to full fitness soon.