Victor Wembanyama travels with Spurs despite concussion from playoff fall; coach Mitch Johnson emphasizes health over game return.
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama will be traveling with the San Antonio Spurs to Portland after being diagnosed with a concussion from a bad fall at Tuesday night’s Game 2 of the playoffs.
Head coach Mitch Johnson gave an update on his status while speaking to members of the media Thursday.
“The update is…he is progressing and he is traveling with the team,” Johnson said. Games 3 and 4 are set to take place in Portland before the team is expected back in San Antonio for Game 5.
Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion after he came down on the court hard in the first half of Tuesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He stayed on the floor for about a minute before heading to the locker room under his own power.
Under the NBA’s concussion policy, Wembanyama must wait at least 48 hours after his time of injury before returning to “full participation without restrictions,” while also fulfilling several requirements for return. Johnson said that, while the Spurs center is traveling to Oregon with the team, there was basically no update on his status as of Thursday afternoon.
“Obviously, we hope he will be back at some point, but we will allow the protocol to play out, and again, there is nothing more important than his health,” Johnson said.
Previously, the team had said it was possible Wembanyama can return to play Friday, depending on the severity of his concussion
The first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers is tied with one win for each team. Tipoff for Game 3 in Portland is 9:30 p.m.