Victor Wembanyama, absent for the San Antonio Spurs for “several weeks”
The French center will miss several games in the middle of his best season in the NBA.
Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, a central figure for the San Antonio Spurs, will be out of action for an undetermined period, although it is anticipated to be several weeks. A left calf injury prevented him from playing in Sunday's 123-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings, marking his first absence of the season. According to ESPN, the center suffered a strain in the affected area. In his third NBA season, the 7-foot-4 player is enjoying his best statistical run. He's averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game, numbers that have helped keep the Spurs in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 9-4 record. A blow to the rhythm of the Spurs' best player. The extent of the injury was revealed before the November 18 game between the Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies. The news was broken by ESPN insider Shams Charania, confirming the poor timing of this loss for a team that was beginning to show signs of improvement after several difficult seasons. Coach Mitch Johnson, when asked about the situation, stated that the team preferred not to rush the center's return. Regarding his physical condition, he said, "Obviously, as we've seen recently in this league, calf strains are not something to be taken lightly," and added, "We don't want to force the situation." The injury comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Frenchman, who has already experienced prolonged interruptions in his recent career. In 2014, he only played 46 games due to a deep vein thrombosis detected after his first All-Star appearance. Although he won Rookie of the Year in his debut season and established himself as a defensive prospect, his consistency has been a recurring issue. In the game against Sacramento, Wembanyama's absence allowed Luke Kornet to assume a leading role. An unexpected starter, he finished with 13 points, making five shots without a miss and blocking three. Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo could all see their playing time increased while the Frenchman recovers.

