The San Antonio Spurs have dealt with a ton of struggles this season, and most of them have been due to the team’s youth. Victor Wembanyama is leading the way, but he just turned 20 years old (today, January 4). Even guys like Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, the team’s other stars, are only 23 and 24 years old, respectively.
However, while many of the Spurs’ problems are self-inflicted wounds, they’ve also dealt with their fair share of injury problems this season. Right now, Zach Collins is set to miss 2-3 weeks, and Malaki Branham is listed as day-to-day. Both guys are dealing with ankle issues.
Head coach Gregg Popovich discussed the absence of those two guys, what it means for the Spurs, and how it affects the two players.
“We miss Malaki and we miss Zach, but everybody’s got somebody that’s out, so that’s not a big deal,” Popovich said via Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “But for us it is because they’re such a young team and they need all their bodies. But I’m pleased with their effort. They just have to keep the attitude up.”
Collins is having a great season thus far playing alongside Wembanyama in the Spurs’ frontcourt. He’s averaging 12.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 49.5% from the floor and 31.2% from behind the three-point line.
Meanwhile, Branham is averaging 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 43.7% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the three-point arc.
The Spurs would love to get Collins and Branham back as soon as possible.
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