Victor Wembanyama Spurs, Receive Disappointing Update on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 6:33 AM ET

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs received unwanted news on Wednesday as their young star remained sidelined.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has pushed the franchise back into true contention with rapid growth and steady dominance. Wembanyama has served as a complete game-changer on both ends of the floor. He is averaging 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks in his third season.

Wembanyama is currently out after suffering a left rib contusion in last Monday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

He has guided San Antonio to a 61-19 record, the West’s second-best mark. The turnaround has been impressive, yet not exactly the finish he wants.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1).Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The Spurs’ bid for the Western Conference’s top seed ended Wednesday after the rival Oklahoma City Thunder locked up the top spot. The defending champions secured the league’s best record for the second straight season with a 128-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Chet Holmgren powered the Thunder with 30 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in a commanding performance.

The Spurs will finish second after battling OKC in a tight race all season. It remains an impressive achievement but will not sit well with Wembanyama’s competitive mindset.

San Antonio will now face the No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs. That team will be determined by the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 seeds in the play-in tournament. As of writing, those two teams are the Phoenix Suns and the Clippers, respectively.

There is still some encouraging news for Spurs fans. Tests showed no structural damage to Wembanyama, and an MRI confirmed the injury is not serious.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Wembanyama could return for one of the Spurs’ final two regular-season games. The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets are up next.

Playing at least 20 minutes in one of those games would make him eligible under the NBA’s 65-game rule for individual awards.

Finishing second will fuel Wembanyama and the Spurs as they enter the postseason determined to win it all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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