The San Antonio Spurs are turning heads this season-and they’re doing it ahead of schedule. Sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings, they’ve gone from a young, intriguing team to a legitimate threat, and the engine behind it all is Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 phenom has been everything the Spurs hoped for and more, anchoring both ends of the floor with a rare blend of size, skill, and basketball IQ.
But on Thursday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Spurs fans got a scare that could’ve derailed all that momentum-if only for a moment.
Early in the first quarter, Wembanyama collided with Giannis Antetokounmpo on a drive to the basket. Both players appeared to bang knees, and Wemby went down hard.
Victor Wembanyama was down in pain and headed to the locker room after bumping knees with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 16, 2026
Hope Wemby’s okay 🙏
pic.twitter.com/OjvE9Z4WJh
He rolled on the court in visible pain before being helped to the locker room. Given how durable he’s been so far, the sight of him leaving the floor was enough to make San Antonio collectively hold its breath.
At the time of his exit, the Spurs were clinging to a narrow 8-7 lead. The energy in the building shifted. Everyone knew how much was at stake-not just for this game, but for the bigger picture of the Spurs’ season.
Thankfully for San Antonio, the injury turned out to be minor. Wembanyama returned to action shortly thereafter, picking up right where he left off. His presence was immediately felt, providing rim protection, floor spacing, and the kind of two-way dominance that’s become his calling card.
Coming into the night, the Spurs were 27-13, good for third in a loaded Western Conference. That’s impressive in any context, but even more so considering they were looking to bounce back from a two-game skid.
First came a heartbreaker-a one-point loss to the Timberwolves. Then came a humbling 21-point defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But here’s the twist: before that blowout loss, San Antonio had already beaten the reigning NBA champions three times this season. The rest of the league?
They’ve only managed to knock off the Thunder four times combined. That says something about what this young Spurs team is building-and how dangerous they can be when everything clicks.
As of late in the first half against Milwaukee, San Antonio was back in control, holding a double-digit lead. Wembanyama had already tallied 10 points and five boards, showing no signs of being slowed by the earlier scare. Rookie guard Stephon Castle was leading the team in scoring, continuing his strong campaign and giving the Spurs yet another reason to feel optimistic about their future.
This team might be young, but they’re fearless. And if Thursday night proved anything, it’s that the Spurs are not just ahead of schedule-they’re here to compete, right now.