San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a rib injury sustained in the first half. The 7-foot-4 French center left the game after colliding with Paul George, who inadvertently elbowed him while attempting to deflect a pass. Wembanyama, who had 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocks in 15:40 of play, was seen pressing his arm to his side before exiting the court.
The injury raises questions about Wembanyama's availability for the upcoming NBA playoffs, which begin next Saturday. With the Spurs aiming to return to championship contention, his health is critical. Additionally, Wembanyama's MVP candidacy is at risk due to the NBA's 65-game minimum requirement for award eligibility. He has played in 63 games this season, but the NBA Cup Final—though not counting toward statistics—does count toward the total, bringing him to 64. The league allows up to two games with 15-19.59 minutes played to count toward the minimum, which Wembanyama met in Monday's game.
The Spurs, currently trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder by 3.0 games, are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, and Denver Nuggets in their final three regular-season games. If they secure a win against the 76ers, they will reach 60 victories for the season.