Victor Wembanyama Spurs Rookie Misses Kings Game Due to Ankle Injury

‣ San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is out for Thursday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a sprained right ankle, marking his seventh missed game of the season. Despite the injury, he is the current favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year, showcasing his significant impact in his debut season.

‣ Wembanyama’s remarkable season averages of 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game position him as the first rookie to potentially average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a full season since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-00.

‣ At just over 20 years old, Wembanyama has set records as the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and the youngest to tally 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game, underscoring his historic start and potential path to the NBA Hall of Fame.

Details

Oh man, the Spurs are gonna feel this one. Victor Wembanyama, that rookie sensation playing forward/center, won’t be hitting the court for Thursday night’s face-off against the Sacramento Kings. Yep, you guessed it—sprained right ankle. That’s his seventh game missed this season. Talk about bad luck.

Wembanyama’s been a staple in the Spurs’ lineup, starting in 56 of their first 62 games. And then, bam, rolled his ankle during the second quarter against Houston on Tuesday night. The Spurs ended up losing that one, 114-101. Not a great night, to say the least.

Despite the tumble, Wembanyama was back on the court to start the second half. Played nearly the whole time, too. Guy’s tough, no doubt. And guess what? He’s the hot favorite to snag the NBA Rookie of the Year, according to all those betting sites.

“Victor Wembanyama is OUT for Thursday’s game vs. the Kings with a right ankle sprain, the Spurs have announced.” That’s the word straight from SpursNation. Tough break, literally.

Now, let’s talk numbers. This guy’s been pulling in an average of 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a league-topping 3.4 blocks per game. And he’s on the court for an average of 28.8 minutes each game. No one’s put up numbers like that since Shaq back in ’99-00. If he keeps this up, he’ll be the first rookie to hit those marks.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is already making his case for the NBA Hall of Fame. Yeah, you heard that right. With a shooting percentage of 46.9% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc, and 81.5% at the foul line, he’s not messing around. Leads the NBA with 193 blocks, ranks 10th in total rebounds (574), and third in defensive rating (107.3).

At just 20 years and six days old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. Happened during a 130-108 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 10. The kid scored 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out a season-high 10 assists in just over 21 minutes. Only Russell Westbrook has logged a triple-double in fewer minutes since the shot clock era began.

“Late one in Sacramento ,” tweeted the Spurs. They’re gearing up for a tough game against the Kings, no doubt. It’s all happening at 9pm CT, so don’t miss it.

Furthermore, in a game against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 8, Wembanyama racked up 21 points, a season-high 20 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and four blocks in 32 minutes. At 19 years and 338 days old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game. Dwight Howard’s previous record? Smashed it by four days.

Without Wembanyama, NBA sportsbooks have the Spurs as 11.5-point underdogs at Sacramento. And the Kings? They’ve got a 76.5% chance of winning, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index. Looks like it’s gonna be an uphill battle for San Antonio.

James Shotwell
James Shotwell
James, a dedicated writer for BasketballHour, holds a degree in English and Creative Writing. A genuine sports enthusiast and skilled betting advice provider, he writes engaging articles and valuable winning strategies for sports.

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