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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 primary 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 phenom not only suffered a rib contusion Monday night, putting him in jeopardy for the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but his MVP candidacy is also in jeopardy.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to an injury during the first half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at 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.
That number doesn’t include the NBA Cup Finals, which don’t actually count in the stat sheet, but the NBA counts it in the season award, marking him just a little bit safer.
If Wembanyama wants to be named MVP, the NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player logs between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the minimum 65 games required in the league to be eligible for the award. Wembanyama 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 half at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
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Wembanyama took an accidental elbow to the ribs from Paul George as the Philadelphia 76ers forward tried to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 Frenchman sprinted up the court on a fast break with 10:49 left in the first half. Wembanyama tumbled to the pitch and stayed down for a minute as George patted him apologetically on the back.
Wembanyama exited the match shortly after the collision and immediately walked into the tunnel leading to the dressing room, holding his arm pressed to his side.
He returned with 5:33 left in the period, but asked head coach Mitch Johnson to take him out with 44 seconds left in the first half. He re-entered the tunnel leading to the dressing room holding his arm to the side and was sent off at the start of the second half.
San Antonio (60-19) is 2.5 games behind the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) and confident of finishing no worse than second in the conference.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama drives the ball up court 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.
