Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Ruled Out Against Suns with Ankle Injury

San Antonio Spurs star rookie Victor Wembanyama will miss Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle during Monday’s NBA action.

There is reportedly no timetable for Wembanyama’s return. He suffered the injury in Saturday’s 131-106 loss to the Suns and was limited to 21 minutes while sitting out the fourth quarter.

Wembanyama also suffered a sprained right ankle that forced him to miss San Antonio’s game against the Sacramento Kings on March 7.

After being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, Wembanyama quickly adjusted to the NBA. The 20-year-old is averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game, establishing himself as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

Shaquille O’Neal was the last player to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a full season in 1999-00, and no rookie has ever finished a year with such numbers.

Despite Wembanyama’s impressive first year, the Spurs have still struggled to succeed and rank last in the Western Conference with a 15-56 record. San Antonio is on its way to another spot in the NBA draft lottery, so the team should be able to add more talent around Wembanyama in the future.

Until Wembanyama can return, the Spurs will likely rely on veteran center Zach Collins to take his place in the starting lineup. San Antonio leveraged more small ball lineups without Wembanyama on the court while Collins was recently sidelined, making that something to monitor.