The San Antonio Spurs have been held back by their youth and inexperience this season, but injuries have also caused them some problems. Zach Collins, their starting center, is set to miss the next couple of weeks with an ankle injury, and Malaki Branham is currently day-to-day with an ankle issue of his own.
And perhaps most notable, Victor Wembanyama is dealing with an ankle issue of his own after an incident against the Dallas Mavericks. Before the game, he fell on the foot of a Mavericks employee. He ended up missing that game and has been on a minutes restriction ever since.
After the Spurs’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, Wembanyama detailed his pleas with the Spurs coaching staff to play more minutes, as well as the frustration that comes with his current minutes restriction.
“I just talk to the coach and I say, ‘Yeah, I played 25 minutes already. What is two more?’ ” Wembanyama said via Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “Looking back, I understand their point of view, but at the moment it is hard and frustrating.”
Wembanyama was sat down with 7:03 to play in the fourth, got back in at 4:47, but then promptly sat back down again at the 3:07 mark.
His night was supposed to be over, but with 1:46 left to go and the Spurs on a run, Wembanyama checked himself back into the game. He ignored Gregg Popovich and the coaching staff but was promptly back down 36 seconds later.
“I wasn’t allowed to sub in, but I still did it, and the coach sent me out right after,” Wembanyama said.
In the end, the Spurs lost 106-98 to the Grizzlies, and Wembanyama played 26:04.
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