Basketball fans were relieved after Victor Wembanyama gave a positive update following his collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday night. The incident looked serious at first, but it turned out to be very minor.
According to Heavy, the collision happened early in the first quarter during the San Antonio Spurs game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Wembanyama’s knee hit Antetokounmpo’s knee hard under the basket. The 7-foot-4 player grabbed his knee right away and looked hurt. He walked to the locker room on his own, which worried fans because of his past injuries.
The scare did not last long. Wembanyama came back to the bench soon after and returned to the game. He finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in just 21 minutes, making five of his six three-point shots as the Spurs won 119-101.
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The collision was nothing new for Wembanyama
After the game, the 22-year-old said the collision was not serious. “I did not think it was serious because it was just knee to knee, and I’ve had this dozens of times,” he told reporters. He added that the hit was harder this time because of who he collided with, saying “never against a guy like [Antetokounmpo]. That was a little more than usual, but thankfully it’s a very benign thing.”
Knee-to-knee contact happens often in the NBA, but hitting one of the league’s most physical players makes it more intense. For a player of Wembanyama’s size and value, any knee problem gets extra attention. His unique defensive presence has even left opponents like Anthony Edwards hilariously confused on the court.
Wembanyama talked about the physical nature of playing against stars like Antetokounmpo. “On a night like tonight, especially going up against a guy like Giannis, I think you have to be ready to give up your body for this matchup,” he said. “No matter what, you’re not going to get out of there 100%.”
The Spurs have good reason to be careful with Wembanyama. He hurt his knee on December 31 against the New York Knicks with a hyperextension. The MRI showed no serious damage, but he missed two games as a safety measure. Earlier medical concerns had some experts discussing potential ACL risks, making fans extra cautious about any knee-related incidents. He also missed 12 games earlier this season with a left calf strain.
The Spurs are clearly protecting their star player for the long term. They want to balance letting him play at a high level while keeping him safe from the wear of a full NBA season. Coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama’s health is checked every day, not on a fixed schedule. Johnson stated, “Every single day that will be the indicators of what ‘next’ looks like.”
Through 27 games, Wembanyama is averaging 23.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. He is shooting career-best numbers of 51.6% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. These strong numbers show why the Spurs are putting his long-term health first.
Published: Jan 16, 2026 03:30 pm