San Antonio Spurs fans got a shocker just before tip-off—Victor Wembanyama is out tonight against the Miami Heat. The 7’4” rookie sensation won’t be playing, and this marks the sixth game he’s missed this season. The timing makes it even more frustrating, with the news breaking just 40 minutes before the game. Naturally, it’s got everyone wondering how serious this illness is and if it’s something that might linger.
Turns out, Wemby’s been battling allergies since getting back from France. He actually mentioned it during Friday’s postgame presser, and you could hear it in his voice—it was hoarse, and he didn’t sound great. He said his allergies have been hitting him harder than usual but figured he’d shake it off soon. And to be fair, it didn’t slow him down much against the Bucks. He dropped a monster 30 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks in that blowout win.
But this isn’t the first time allergies have been a problem for him. Since coming to San Antonio as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft, Wembanyama has dealt with persistent issues. Friday’s comments didn’t make it sound too serious, but clearly, it was enough to keep him out tonight. The Spurs aren’t taking any chances. They’ll want him fully recovered before throwing him back into action.
Wembanyama’s Absence: Impact on the Spurs
With Wemby out, the Spurs have to find a way to adjust. That means guys like Sandro Mamukelashvili, Charles Bassey, and Zach Collins are going to get more minutes at center. Not exactly an easy task, considering they’re up against a tough Miami Heat squad. It’s going to take a full team effort, and players like Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell will have to step up big-time to cover for Wemby’s scoring and rebounding.
The good news? The Spurs have shown some fight this season. They’ve had to deal with adversity before, but let’s be real—missing Wemby is huge. His presence on both ends of the floor changes everything. He’s been putting up 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, completely dominating in his rookie season. His shot-blocking alone makes a massive difference, and without him, the Spurs are going to have to get creative on defense.
That said, the team remains optimistic. The Spurs’ medical staff will be keeping a close eye on Wemby, making sure he’s fully healthy before he gets back on the floor. It’s a long season, and they won’t want to rush him back too soon.
For now, San Antonio has to figure things out without him. This matchup against Miami just got a lot tougher, but the Spurs have no choice but to step up and compete. The bigger picture? They need Wembanyama back as soon as possible if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
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