The San Antonio Spurs are navigating a tricky stretch of their season without their franchise cornerstone, Victor Wembanyama - and doing it better than many expected. In the seven games since Wemby went down with a calf injury, the Spurs have gone 5-2, a run that includes a statement win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Sure, the schedule hasn’t been brutal, but it’s still impressive to see a young team hold its own without the player who's been at the center of everything they do.
Wembanyama was putting up monster numbers before the injury - 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game - and doing it with the kind of two-way dominance that had him firmly in the MVP conversation and as close to a Defensive Player of the Year lock as you can get in early December. He was also making a strong case for Most Improved, showing just how far he’d come even from a stellar rookie campaign.
But here’s the catch: the NBA’s 65-game minimum for award eligibility looms large. If Wemby doesn’t return soon - and stay healthy - those individual accolades might slip out of reach, regardless of how dominant he’s been when on the floor.
The Spurs, understandably, are playing the long game. There’s been no official timeline for Wembanyama’s return, and all signs point to San Antonio being extremely cautious. That’s the smart move - this team isn’t going to jeopardize the future of a generational talent for a few extra regular-season wins or even a deeper push in the inaugural NBA Cup.
Reports suggest Wembanyama likely won’t be back for the December 10 NBA Cup matchup against the Lakers, but there’s growing optimism he’ll return well before the Spurs’ Christmas Day showdown with the Thunder. That timeline would give him a chance to ramp back up as the schedule tightens and the stakes rise.
If the Spurs can get past the Lakers in the Cup quarterfinals, they’ll face either Oklahoma City or Phoenix in the semifinals in Las Vegas. The Suns have already taken two games off San Antonio this season - once with Wemby in the lineup and once without - and the Thunder, who have yet to face the Spurs, are looking like a legitimate force in the West. No matter who they draw, it’s going to be a tough out.
The reality is this: while the Spurs have held their own without Wembanyama, it’s not a sustainable formula for long-term success. They’ve weathered the storm, but their ceiling is dramatically higher with him on the court.
Wemby doesn’t just elevate the team - he changes the equation entirely. With him, the Spurs go from a scrappy playoff hopeful to a team that could make a legitimate push toward the Western Conference Finals.
And it’s not just Wembanyama. San Antonio’s injury report has been crowded early in the season.
Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk, Luke Kornet, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Jordan McLaughlin, and Stephon Castle have all missed time. The organization has been consistent in its approach - prioritizing long-term health over short-term gains - and that’s the right call, especially with young players who are key to the franchise’s future.
There’s no need to rush Wemby or Castle back into action. But let’s be clear: the sooner Wembanyama returns, the sooner the Spurs can get back to building the kind of team that no one wants to face in the postseason.
Because without him, they’re a tough out. With him?
They’re a problem - and one that could be hanging around deep into the spring.