Victor Wembanyama Out with Concussion After His Head Slams on Court in Terrifying Playoff Moment
Victor Wembanyama Out with Concussion After His Head Slams on Court in Terrifying Playoff Moment
Jaclyn HendricksWed, April 22, 2026 at 5:10 PM UTC
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Victor Wembanyama on the floor after being injured in Game 2 of the Spurs-Trail Blazers playoff seriesCredit: Ronald Cortes/Getty -
Victor Wembanyama entered concussion protocol after a hard fall during Game 2 of the Spurs' playoff series
Wembanyama's status for the remainder of the series is unclear
The Spurs' first-round series against the Trail Blazers is tied 1-1 with Games 3 and 4 set for Portland
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama entered concussion protocol Tuesday, April 21, after taking a hard fall on the court midway through the team's Game 2 playoff defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The newly crowned NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 22, smacked his head on the hardwood while driving to the basket against the Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday and remained on the floor inside inside San Antonio's Frost Bank Center for a few moments as players from both teams gathered around the towering 7-foot-4 forward.
Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of the game, an eventual 106-103 loss to even San Antonio's first-round playoff series against Portland, 1-1.
"I just know he has a concussion and he's in the protocol," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said afterward, according to ESPN. "We'll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps."
The series will shift to Portland for Games 3 and 4 beginning Friday.
Although Wembanyama's status for the remainder of the series is unclear, players who are diagnosed with concussions "cannot return to full participation" for at least 48 hours after the injury, according to league guidelines. They also cannot start the return-to-participation exertion process "until 24 hours after the time of injury," a decision that will come from a team doctor, per the guidelines.
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Victor Wembanyama (1) in action for the Spurs during Game 2 against the Trail Blazers on April 21, 2026Credit: David Dow/NBAE via Getty
A player can take the court again when they are "without concussion-related symptoms at rest," have been evaluated by a physician, undergone exertion testing and have been approved by the director of the NBA Concussion Program, the guidelines state. Should the director be in agreement with the team doctor, the player will get the green light to play.
The Spurs entered this year's NBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after compiling a 62-20 record during the regular season.
Wembanyama, the Spurs' first overall pick in 2023, scored 35 points in San Antonio's 111-98 victory over Portland in Game 1 of the series on Sunday, April 19, when the team matched in all-black suits.
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"We're hoping for the best, but I haven't heard anything," Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said after the game, according to ESPN. "Obviously, it's a big hit that we don't have the big fellow. But we're a good team, and we'll continue to stay together, have each other's back and do what got us here."
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