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With the NBA playoffs set to begin next Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to bring back their glory days of winning five titles from 1999 to 2014.
Victor Wembanyama has been 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 forward not only suffered a rib injury Monday night, putting him in jeopardy for the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but his MVP nomination is also in jeopardy.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to an injury during the first half of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
The NBA says players must play 65 games to receive votes for season awards such as MVP and All-NBA teams. However, Wembanyama has played in 63 games.
That number doesn’t include the NBA Cup Final, which doesn’t actually count on the stat sheet, but the NBA counts it toward the season’s prize money, making him a little safer.
If Wembanyama wants to be named MVP, the NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player logged between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the league’s required 65 games played to qualify for the award. Iwembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half on Monday.
Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers reaches out to an injured Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the first period at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
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Wembanyama elbowed Paul George in the ribs as the Philadelphia 76ers forward attempted to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 Frenchman rushed down the court on a fast break with 10:49 left in the first half. Wembanyama just fell on the field and sat for a minute when George patted him on the back and apologized.
Wembanyama left the game shortly after the collision and entered the corridor leading to the locker room with his arm at his side.
He returned with 5:33 left in the period, but asked coach Mitch Johnson to sub him 44 seconds into the first half. He also entered the corridor leading to the changing room while holding his arm at his side and was told to leave at the start of the second half.
San Antonio (60-19) is 2.5 games behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) and is guaranteed to finish worse than second in the conference.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama brings the ball up 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 Spurs’ last three games are at home.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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