The San Antonio Spurs will be without their otherworldly presence against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the game with left calf tightness, the Spurs announced on Sunday.
Wembanyama, 21, was first listed as questionable earlier Saturday with the injury. It will be the first game the former Rookie of the Year and all-star will miss this season.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said the soreness was progressive and not related to any play. He also said the afternoon tip off did not factor into Wembanyama missing his first game this season.
“Yeah, I think it was just something that he felt,” Johnson said. “I don’t think there was a specific play. And, obviously, we’ve seen around this league recently, the calf tightness thing is not something you want to take lightly. So just got to get some more information and don’t want to push it there.”
The seven-foot-four centre is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4 assists and a league-leading 3.6 blocks in 12 games. Wembanyama also led the league in total blocks over the last two full seasons.
Wembanyama played only 46 games during his sophomore season in 2024-25, missing the final two months with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder.
After finishing 13th in the Western Conference with a 34-48 record last season, the Spurs are off to an 8-4 start, good for fifth place.
Wembanyama, who made the All-Defensive first team and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during his rookie season, has led the Spurs to the league’s sixth-best defensive rating.
Luke Kornet will start at centre for San Antonio in Wembanyama’s absence.
Watch the action live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with tip-off set for 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
–With files from The Associated Press
