So here we are again — another chapter in the never-ending soap opera that is Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season, and yet somehow it feels like I’ve already lived through this scenario a dozen times. This time, though, the stakes aren’t just about whether he’ll be out for a game or two; they’re about whether he can actually *qualify* for postseason awards. Because if you don’t play at least 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ remaining games — which is basically three games left in this season — then you’re disqualified from contention for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and any other award that’s worth a damn.
And let me tell you something: I feel *physically* worse just thinking about it. Like, my chest hurts. My stomach knots up. It’s like watching your favorite character in a movie get hit by a car and then have to walk away from the scene, knowing they’re going to be fine but still wondering if they’re going to come back with enough time left on the clock to make a difference.
So here’s what happened: Wemby got clipped in the ribs by Paul George during Monday’s game against the 76ers. That collision looked like it could’ve been catastrophic — I mean, it was one of those moments where you think, “Oh no, this is it. This is the injury that will change everything.” But then they did some tests and said he avoided a major injury. He’s day-to-day, which in NBA terms usually means “we’re not telling you anything because we don’t want to jinx it.” But still, there was something about that hit that felt like one of those moments where the universe is testing your patience.
And now we’re down to the wire — three games left in the season. The Spurs have a game against the Blazers on Wednesday, then the Mavericks and Nuggets at home. If Wemby doesn’t play 20 minutes in any of these games, he’s out of the running for the big awards. And that feels like the NBA is throwing a curveball — not just to fans, but to Wemby himself.
I mean, think about it: He’s the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and a legitimate MVP candidate. But if he doesn’t play 20 minutes in one of those three games, he’s out. That feels like an absurd rule — like the NBA is saying, “Sure, you’re playing like a god, but we’re not going to let you get your due unless you show up for *exactly* the right amount of time.” It’s like the league is trying to play God with his legacy.
And I don’t know if it’s fair. Because I mean, sure, he needs to be in games to be eligible. But if the Spurs are giving him minutes strategically — like, maybe they want to keep him fresh for the playoffs? Maybe they think it’s better to rest him now than risk injury down the line? Then that decision might cost him a chance at an award that would’ve been his by default.
But here’s the thing: This is the Spurs. This is San Antonio. And I don’t know if I can trust them with this kind of decision-making. They’ve had a history — and not just in the last few seasons, but going back decades — of making decisions that feel like they’re trying to win by the book instead of actually winning.
I remember when they drafted Kawhi Leonard out of college and then let him play 15 minutes per game his rookie season. I mean, come on! You draft a guy who’s supposed to be the future of the franchise, and you give him 15 minutes? That’s like giving your kid $50 for their birthday and telling them they can’t spend it until college.
And then there was the time they traded Tony Parker in a deal that made absolutely no sense. I mean, they gave up Chris Paul for a guy who’d be playing on the bench two years later. It felt like they were trying to make a trade just because they wanted to feel like they were doing something — not because it actually helped them win.
So now we’re in this weird position where Wemby is arguably the best player in the league, but the Spurs might be holding back his minutes to preserve him for the playoffs. And if that happens, he’ll miss out on the awards he deserves. That feels like a betrayal — not of Wemby, necessarily, but of what the Spurs have always claimed they stand for.
Because here’s the thing: The Spurs are supposed to be the smartest team in the league. They’re supposed to know how to win without burning out their players. But then again, I’ve seen them do some truly baffling things over the years — like trading Tim Duncan for a bunch of garbage picks and then watching him become one of the greatest ever.
So is this another one of those moments? Is this another one of those times where the Spurs are trying to be clever, but just end up being shortsighted?
I don’t know. But I do know that if Wemby doesn’t play in at least one of these games — and I mean *at least* 20 minutes — then he’s going to feel like he’s been shafted by a system that doesn’t value its own stars.
Because let me tell you, this isn’t just about the awards. It’s also about legacy. The NBA is all about legacy — the way the MVP trophy sits on your mantel, the way people talk about you years after you’ve left the league. And if Wemby doesn’t get that chance to be recognized for what he’s done this season, it’s going to feel like a huge missed opportunity.
And I can’t help but think of other players who’ve been in similar situations — guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, who had to fight their way into the conversation because they didn’t get the minutes they deserved. But Wemby is different. He’s not fighting his way in; he’s being held back by a team that’s supposed to be smart.
And I wonder — what if the Spurs are actually trying to protect him? What if they’re worried about overusing him now, especially with how dominant he’s been? Because let’s face it: When you have a player like Wemby on your roster, people start looking at you differently. They start thinking, “Hey, maybe we should take this kid seriously.” But the Spurs are old-school — they’re not interested in hype or headlines. They just want to win.
But here’s the rub: If they don’t give him the minutes he needs now, they might be setting themselves up for a bigger problem later. Because if Wemby doesn’t get that recognition this season, it’s going to feel like he’s being held back — and people will start asking questions about whether the Spurs are actually interested in building around their star.
Because let’s not forget: The Spurs have been trying to build something new for years now. They’ve had a bunch of players come through the system — from Dejounte Murray to Derrick White to Keldon Johnson — but none of them have really taken off the way Wemby could. He’s not just a good player; he’s a generational talent, and the Spurs need to treat him like it.
But if they don’t give him the minutes he needs now, then that sends a message: “We’re not going to let you shine unless we feel like it.” And that’s not the kind of message you want to send to a guy who just might be the best player in the league — even if he’s only 19 years old.
And I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to think this is the most important season for Wemby yet. Because if he doesn’t get that recognition now, it could affect how people view him moving forward — especially when it comes to free agency and his future with the Spurs.
Because let’s be honest: If Wemby leaves San Antonio in a few years, it’s going to be because they didn’t do enough to protect their investment. And if he doesn’t get that recognition this season, people are going to start questioning whether the Spurs were ever really interested in making him part of the plan.
And I don’t know how you fix that — because once those questions are out there, it’s hard to take them back.
But here’s what we do know: Wemby is going to play again. The doctors say he avoided a major injury, and even though he only played 15 minutes in Monday’s game, the Spurs still have three games left in the regular season. So if they’re smart — which I think they are — they’ll give him enough minutes in one of those games so he can qualify for the awards.
But then again, maybe not. Because this is the Spurs, and I don’t know if I can trust them to make the right call when it matters most.
I mean, let’s face it: The Spurs have a history of making decisions that seem reasonable at first but end up being catastrophic in hindsight. Like when they traded Danny Green for a bunch of future picks — which seemed like a good idea at the time but turned out to be one of the worst trades in franchise history.
Or when they let Kawhi Leonard walk away after the 2018 championship season, because they thought he was too much of a liability. I mean, come on! That guy just led them to a title — and they let him go? That felt like betrayal at the time, and it still feels that way.
So is this another one of those moments for Wemby? Is this another one of those times when the Spurs are trying to be clever but end up being short-sighted?
I don’t know. But I do know that if they don’t give him the minutes he needs now, then it’s going to feel like a missed opportunity — not just for him, but for the entire organization.
Because Wemby is different. He’s not just another player who came through the system and got traded away. He’s the future of the Spurs — and if they don’t treat him like that right now, I can’t see how they expect to be relevant in the next few years.
So here’s my hope: The Spurs are going to give Wemby enough minutes in one of these games so he can qualify for the awards. Because if they don’t, then it’s not just about missing out on some trophies — it’s about sending a message that they’re not serious about building around their star.
And I don’t think they want to be remembered as the team that held back the best player in the league because they were too scared of losing him. Because if they do, then history will remember them for all the wrong reasons — and Wemby won’t be able to save them from it.