In a last-minute press conference before the San Antonio Spurs take on the Portland Trail Blazers, Mitch Johnson announced that Victor Wembanyama won't suit up.
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs did everything they could to get him to play in Game 3. They rested him fully after he suffered a concussion in the first half of Game 2, and he traveled with the team to Portland for Friday's showdown against the Trail Blazers.
Wembanyama, it turns out, will watch the game from the bench.
While the Spurs lost Game 2 without Wembanyama in the lineup, the Spurs went 2-1 against the Trail Blazers in the regular season, with Wemby missing all three games. The Spurs have gotten used to him being in and out of the lineup during his career so far, and are positioned for success even without him for this one game.
However, head injuries are tricky, and the Spurs haven't offered a concrete prediction for when he will return to the lineup.
Spurs Rule Wembanyama Out
In the days and hours leading up to Friday's Game 3, there was speculation that Wembanyama would try to suit up. However, the NBA has a strict concussion protocol, and throughout his career, the Spurs have emphasized that Wemby's long-term health is the top priority.
Even in the postseason, that has not changed.
"Victor is not playing tonight," said Mitch Johnson, about an hour before tipoff. "Obviously, there's a lot that goes into that, but he's doing well and progressing. There's gonna be a lot of questions I understand and follow-ups, and I don't think that I'm the appropriate person, especially at this time, to answer a lot of them, but he is doing well and progressing."
Given that Wembanyama was seen at shoot-around on both Thursday and Friday and seemed to be an active participant in the final practice before Game 3, fans should expect him to return for Game 4, which will be on Sunday in Portland.
Without Wembanyama, the Spurs will turn to Luke Kornet to play big minutes. Kornet was solid in Games 1 and 2 as Wembanyama sat and was injured, and has proven himself as a capable starter throughout the regular season.
When Kornet sits, the Spurs could turn to veterans like Mason Plumlee, Bismack Biyombo, and Kelly Olynyk, although the team has hinted at a preference to go small, with Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant playing some small-ball center.
Bryant, in particular, has thrived in the first two games as a primary defender. While he might not be able to slow down Robert Williams or Donovan Clingan down low, he has been integral in keeping Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and Deni Avdija mostly contained in the first two games.