French professional basketball player Victor Wembanyama is expected to return to the San Antonio Spurs team for Sunday night's fourth game against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of their NBA Western Conference play-off.
The 22-year-old missed game three on Friday night in Portland after he fell early in the second quarter of game two on Wednesday night and suffered a concussion.
Following the departure of their star defender, the Spurs lost the game 106-103 allowing Portland to level the best-of-seven series at one apiece.
However, the Spurs rallied without Wembanyama. Stephon Castle scored 33 points and Dylan Harper hit 27 at the Moda Center as the Spurs won 120-108 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
On Monday night in game one at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Wembanyama, who was making his debut in the play-offs, scored 35 points in the 111-98 victory.
It was the most points amassed by a Spurs player in their play-off debut since Tim Duncan racked up 32 in 1998.
Duncan, 49 and former teammate David Robinson – known as the Twin Towers in their heyday – were among the fans for the game.
Wembanyama's return from concussion will be key as the Spurs attempt to reach the Western Conference semi-finals of the NBA pay-offs for the first time sine 2017.
"The [concussion] protocol is the protocol," said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. "We'll just hope that he continues to progress.
"Obviously we hope he'll be back at some point. But we'll allow the protocol to play out. There's nothing more important than his health.
“We know that Victor is chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys.”
More accolades
Wembanyama, at two metres 21 centimetres, boasts the height of a centre (defender) as well as the shooting and silky ball-handling skills of a guard (attacker).
His absence from the fray came at the end of a week in which he notched up other notable firsts.
He was placed on the shortlist for the NBA most valuable player (MVP) award to become the first Frenchman to compete for one of the most prestigious honours in the sport.
He will vie with the 2025 winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, who claimed it in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Other recipients in the 70-year history of the prize include Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Larry Bird. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six crowns between 1971 and 1980.
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Another feat was the unanimous decision to award him the NBA defender of the year trophy.
No other player in the 43-year history of the award has gained the five points as first pick of all the judges on the voting panel.
Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder was second and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons was third.
At 22 years and three months, Wembanyama also became the youngest player to claim the prize.
"I'm super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first-ever unanimous winner," Wembanyama told NBC Sports Network.
"I've had the chance to have great coaches over my career who have taught me great habits on defence.
"We often overlook the team aspect. I happen to be the guy who's put in the spotlight, but I am part of a system and I couldn't get this award and I couldn't do what I do if it wasn't for my teammates ... and my coaching."
Not a first
It was Wembanyama's second unanimous win. In May 2024, he swept the board in the voting for the rookie of the year prize. Holmgren was second and Charlotte's Brandon Miller was third.
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The defender of the year award and the nomination for MVP of the NBA 2026 season vindicate the hype around Wembanyama's move in June 2023 to the Texas-based Spurs where he became the first Frenchman to be the first overall draft pick since the draft system was set up in 1947 to recruit young players into the basketball league.
Wembanyama had finished the 2023 season with the French division one outfit Metropolitans 92 with the accolade of youngest player to win the LNB Pro A MVP award.
And since arriving in the US, he has continued to flourish.
In February 2025, Wembanyama featured as one of the reserves for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game against the Eastern Conference.
Then only 21, he became the youngest All-Star in San Antonio's 50 years as an NBA franchise and the first Spurs player to be selected in one of his first two seasons since Duncan in 1998.
In February 2026, Wembanyama enhanced his legend with a place in the starting line-up for the Western Conference team.
After three seasons in the US and praise, more honours are expected to come to Wembanyama.
"It's just a process," said Gregg Popovich, who was the Spurs coach when Wembanyama was brought into the side.
"There's no formula. You just try not to skip any steps. And luckily, he's an intelligent, coachable young man.
"He has already been taught many important lessons. He understands the priorities. He's not fazed by the hype or anything like that. His parents already did the job with him, so I just have to not mess it up."
