The San Antonio Spurs’ crucial Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers could hinge on whether Victor Wembanyama is able to suit up.
The NBA’s newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year was officially listed as questionable in the Spurs’ injury report released Thursday, April 23. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m. ET) in Portland.
Wembanyama left Game 2 of their first-round playoff series with a concussion after tripping while driving toward the basket against the Blazers’ Jrue Holiday and hitting his head on the court. The incident occurred with just under nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Wembanyama remained on the floor, then gathered himself and hurried to the locker room under his own power and was quickly evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that he had entered the league’s concussion protocol and would not return to the game.
Wembanyama finished with five points, four rebounds, and one assist in just 12 minutes of play.
Since his NBA career started in 2023, the Spur phenom has suffered various injuries to his ankle and shoulder, among other places, but this is the first concussion.
“He has a concussion and he’s in the protocol, and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after Game 2.
Wembanyama was named the first unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, April 20.
1 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama pumps his fist at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026. Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award Monday, April 20 in the first unanimous vote in league history.
1 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama pumps his fist at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026. Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award Monday, April 20 in the first unanimous vote in league history.
2 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama passes the ball away from Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (23) in the second half at Ball Arena in Denver on April 4, 2026.
3 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama blocks the shot of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on April 4, 2026.
4 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket between Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) and center Donovan Clingan (23) during the first half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on Apr 19, 2026.
5 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after dunking ahead of Philadelphia 76ers forwards Justin Edwards (11) and Dominick Barlow (25) during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Frost Bank Center on Apr 6, 2026.
6 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) runs on the court against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at the Chase Center on Apr 1, 2026.
7 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is introduced before the game against then Chicago Bulls at Frost Bank Center on Mar 30, 2026.
8 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
LA Clippers guard Jordan Miller (22) shoots the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the first half at Intuit Dome on Mar. 16, 2026.
9 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) in the first half at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 10, 2026.
10 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in introduced before the game against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 8, 2026.
11 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts with teammates forwards Carter Bryant (11) and Julian Champagnie (30) and guard Devin Vassell (24) after securing a comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 6, 2026.
12 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama (1) beats a drum and leads fans on a cheer after a victory over the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026.
13 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks over Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) and at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026.
14 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) rebounds the ball in front of Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Mar. 3, 2026.
15 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to pass the ball from the floor during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moody Center on Feb. 19, 2026.
16 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) battle for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center on Jan. 28, 2026.
17 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) in the second half at State Farm Arena on Dec. 19, 2025
18 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during practice prior to the Emirates NBA Cup championship at the T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 15, 2025
19 / 19
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in action
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Oct. 22, 2025.
Will Victor Wembanyama play in Game 3?
Wembanyama traveled with the Spurs to Portland for Games 3 and 4 this weekend, while continuing to abide by the NBA’s concussion protocol.
While San Antonio Coach Mitch Johnson said Thursday, April 23 that his star is “progressing,” Wembanyama’s status for Game 2 remains questionable.
According the reports, Wembanyama was at the team’s practice facility Thursday, walking around in a black hoodie and gray sweatpants and got a few shots off.
What is the NBA’s policy on concussions?
According to the NBA’s concussion protocol, a player who sustains a head injury is not eligible to return to play for at least 48 hours from the time of diagnosis. However, after 24 hours, if the player’s symptoms have not worsened, they may gradually resume basketball activities under close supervision. Full clearance to return to game action is only granted after the player is symptom-free and receives approval from the team’s medical staff.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Johnson said, according to the Associated Press. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama injury update as Spurs star deals with concussion
