San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out of Thursday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a right ankle injury.
Wembanyama is sidelined one night after producing 41 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots in San Antonio’s 127-113 road victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Wembanyama reiterated after the contest that he wants to win the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. He’s already considered a big favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year honors.
“I do care deeply about it,” Wembanyama told reporters of the MVP. “I think that of the greats that are in the Hall of Fame — or the best of all time — they have fought and grabbed everything they could grab early on in their career. If I want to make my spot among the greats, I got to try to not miss any occasion to put my name up there.”
Wembanyama has played in 61 games and hasn’t reached the 65-game threshold required to be eligible for league awards. After missing Thursday’s game, he will need to play in at least four of San Antonio’s final five regular-season contests.
The 22-year-old Frenchman is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per game. He has also made 117 3-point baskets.
The Spurs (58-18) have won 10 straight contests and stand two games behind the defending NBA champion Oklahoma Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.
