Wembanyama: Concussion and DPOY

Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA’s concussion protocol Tuesday night after a face-first fall in San Antonio’s 106-103 playoff loss to Portland. (nba.com) The Spurs said Wembanyama was hurt with 8:57 left in the second quarter of Game 2 after a foul by Jrue Holiday, and he did not return. He finished with five points, four rebounds, one block and one assist in 12 minutes. (nba.com) Portland closed on an 11-2 run, got 31 points from Scoot Henderson, and tied the Western Conference first-round series 1-1. Game 3 is Friday, April 24, in Portland. (espn.com) Under the league’s concussion rules, a player must first complete at least 48 hours of rest and recovery, then pass symptom checks, neurological testing and final medical clearance. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after Game 2, “The protocol is the protocol.” (nba.com) The injury came one day after the NBA named Wembanyama the 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year. The league said the 22-year-old became the youngest winner in award history and the first unanimous winner since the trophy was created in 1982-83. (nba.com) A global media panel of 100 voters gave Wembanyama all 100 first-place votes. ESPN’s published tally listed Chet Holmgren second and Ausar Thompson third. (nba.com) (espn.com) San Antonio finished 62-20, the second-best record in the league, and opened the playoffs with Wembanyama scoring 35 points in his postseason debut. In Game 2, the Spurs led by 14 early in the fourth quarter before the offense stalled after his exit. (espn.com) (nba.com) That combination — a unanimous defense award, a 7-foot-4 frame and a playoff series that changed when he left — is why opponents are already building game plans around his availability. By Friday night in Portland, the question is whether San Antonio gets its new Defensive Player of the Year back on the floor. (nba.com) (espn.com)