San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during an NBA game.
The 2025-26 NBA season is in full swing, and the San Antonio Spurs are having a strong start to the year. The Spurs are 17-7 on the year despite star forward Victor Wembanyama only playing 12 games.
Wembanyama has not played since suffering a calf injury against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14, which resulted in a one-point loss for the Spurs. During his absence, the Spurs have performed well, going 9-3 in the 12 games without him. This includes a 132-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, which advanced the Spurs to the semifinals, where they will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis and guard Kevin Huerter defend at United Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis and guard Kevin Huerter defend at United Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
Prior to the upcoming matchup, ESPN NBA reporter Shams Charania provided an update on Wembanyama’s status for Saturday’s game. According to Charania, Wembanyama is expected to return to the court when the Spurs face the Thunder. However, he noted that the final decision regarding Wembanyama’s clearance will be made after Friday’s practice.
This season, Wembanyama has performed exceptionally well when on the court. He is averaging a career-high of 26.2 points per game, along with 12.9 rebounds, four assists, and 3.6 blocks per game. He is shooting 50.2% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range.
If Wembanyama is cleared, Saturday’s semifinal won’t just mark his return; it will reignite one of the NBA’s most compelling new rivalries. His battles with Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren have been appointment viewing since the moment both stars entered the league, and another high-stakes clash only adds to the growing legend. With a trip to the NBA Cup final on the line, San Antonio and its returning superstar now step back into the spotlight.
The Spurs and Thunder will play at 9:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video on Saturday.