San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama made his return from left knee soreness off the bench against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, scoring 30 points in just 21 minutes during a 106-105 defeat. The 7-foot-4 star had missed the previous two games due to the injury. Coach Mitch Johnson imposed a minutes restriction but expressed confidence in his recovery.
Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft, stepped back onto the court in Memphis after sitting out two games with left knee soreness. The Spurs fell short in a tight contest, losing 106-105 to the Grizzlies. In limited action, Wembanyama was efficient, shooting 10 of 20 from the field and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds and one blocked shot.
Before the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson outlined the cautious approach. "He’s been putting in a lot of work," Johnson said, noting that the coaching staff, medical team, and Wembanyama himself felt ready to proceed. The team planned to monitor his response daily, with Johnson emphasizing long-term health: "We will be extremely mindful of the situation as we have been and will continue to be. It’s just going to be one of those living, breathing kind of situations that we’re going to continue to juggle and balance until we don’t. I would guess that won’t be this season."
This season, Wembanyama has appeared in 22 games, starting 15, and leads the Spurs in scoring and rebounds. He previously missed a dozen games due to left calf tightness. The knee issue stemmed from a hyperextension against the New York Knicks on December 31, which also caused a bone bruise.
Looking ahead, Wembanyama is expected to play in the Spurs' next game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, despite the ongoing soreness. Johnson reported that Wembanyama "came out pretty good" health-wise after Tuesday's performance. The Spurs, currently among the top teams in the Western Conference, remain 4.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
