Victor Wembanyama To Miss Second Straight Game

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is set to miss his second straight game. Read on for further details surrounding Wembanyama, 21, and the immediate future.

Victor Wembanyama To Miss Second Straight Game

On New Year’s Day, Wembanyama received a positive update after suffering a leg injury during the Spurs’ 134-132 win over the New York Knicks on New Year’s Eve.

After the New Year’s Eve game, the 21-year-old told reporters that he hyperextended his knee and initially expected to play in the Spurs’ next game on Jan. 3. The Spurs’ fans and media members breathed a sigh of relief at the time, but the positive update is paused until further notice. That was a likely result after the French big man didn’t travel with the team to Indianapolis.

Team officials wanted the Frenchman to take advantage of the treatment options available at the Victory Capital Performance Center. Fast forward to Saturday, as the team officially ruled him out at the Portland Trail Blazers.

Saturday’s game will mark the 14th game he will miss this season. That is a potential concern as NBA rules state players need to play in 65 of the 82 regular-season games to be eligible for most postseason awards.

Victor Wembanyama’s Outlook

Wembanyama’s outlook is bright, to say the least. When healthy, Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 52.5% from the field and 36.5% from the three-point range.

He and the Spurs should be alright. After Saturday’s game, San Antonio won’t play again until Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. San Antonio’s ability to step up without its biggest star has shown in the past thanks to a No. 6 offense that helps carry a No. 20 defense, along with a strong “next man up” mentality.

Next Steps

The Grizzlies are a lowly team in terms of their record, but they may end up playing spoiler against the Spurs on Tuesday.

To counter Memphis, San Antonio should prioritize relentless perimeter pressure and timely rotations to limit three-point attempts, emphasize ball movement to create open looks from beyond the arc, move to an offensive approach to generate quality shots, and communicate as a team to anticipate screens and close passing lanes before the offense can develop.