San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the second half of Monday’s game against Philadelphia due to a left rib contusion, the team announced (via Jared Weiss of The Athletic).
The injury occurred in the first half after a fall, and Luke Kornet started the third quarter in his place.
Despite exiting early, Wembanyama still logged 16 minutes, meaning the game counts toward the NBA’s 65-game minimum for postseason awards. He also had a previous 17-minute appearance that qualifies.
To secure eligibility, Wembanyama needs to play at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ final three games.
Even if he finishes with 64 regular-season appearances, he would still meet the threshold because of his participation in the NBA Cup final.
Before leaving, the 2023 No. 1 pick recorded 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, with San Antonio performing well during his time on the floor.
If he qualifies, Wembanyama is considered a strong favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and remains in the MVP conversation.
In ESPN’s latest straw poll by Tim Bontemps, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 88 first-place votes, followed by Wembanyama in second and Nikola Jokic in third.
Jaylen Brown received the only other first-place vote, while Luka Doncic ranked fourth.
The Spurs’ primary concern now is Wembanyama’s health ahead of the playoffs, especially as he has also been managing right ankle soreness in recent weeks.
Victor Wembanyama Exits Monday's Game With Rib Contusion https://t.co/0dreoXlTHt pic.twitter.com/ukFZ34pZDx
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 7, 2026
