San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will miss extended time after being diagnosed with a left calf strain, the team announced Monday. The 7-foot-4 center was held out of Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings and will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
Wembanyama suffered the injury during Friday’s 109–108 loss to the Golden State Warriors, where he posted 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. An MRI on Sunday confirmed the diagnosis, creating the first major setback of San Antonio’s promising start.
The timing poses a significant challenge for a Spurs team off to its best opening in a decade. San Antonio sits at 9–4 and fifth in the Western Conference, driven in large part by Wembanyama’s third-year leap into one of the league’s most dominant two-way forces.
He is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 50.2% from the field, 34.5% from deep and 85.7% at the free-throw line.
How Victor Wembanyama’s Absence Impacts the Spurs
A recovery window of up to three weeks could sideline Wembanyama for as many as 10 games. Under the NBA’s new 65-game requirement for major awards, he would have little room for additional missed time to remain eligible for Defensive Player of the Year or Most Valuable Player consideration.
The immediate focus shifts to how San Antonio will fill the void. Luke Kornet started in Wembanyama’s place on Sunday and delivered 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while anchoring the paint. Veteran Kelly Olynyk moved into the backup role behind him.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has a left calf strain and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bqxDL9y6up
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 17, 2025
The Spurs leaned heavily on their backcourt to beat Sacramento, a trend likely to continue. De’Aaron Fox has totaled 52 points and 21 assists over his last two games, giving San Antonio much-needed scoring and organization as the offense adjusts without its top interior threat.
Stephon Castle, who began the season as the starting point guard and continued to handle playmaking duties after Fox returned, exited Sunday’s game with a hip injury and did not return. His status could further complicate the rotation if he misses additional time. Devin Vassell may also take on more creation responsibilities after recording seven assists against the Kings.
Challenging Stretch Ahead for San Antonio
San Antonio will attempt to stabilize at home before entering a heavy road portion of its schedule. After hosting Memphis and Atlanta, the Spurs embark on a stretch in which six of their next seven games will be away from home — including matchups with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Only 1.5 games separate fifth place from eighth in the West. For a Spurs team that has depended on Wembanyama’s rim protection, control of the defensive glass and steady scoring volume, the next few weeks represent a significant early-season test.
Wembanyama was limited to 46 games last season due to deep vein thrombosis and underwent surgery to clear the blood clot. No long-term issues were expected, and he was off to the best start of his NBA career before this setback.
San Antonio has not indicated whether the team will be cautious with the 21-year-old upon return, but calf strains often lead teams to avoid back-to-backs and ease players back into full workload.
