Victor Wembanyama will not play for the San Antonio Spurs in their preseason finale against the Houston Rockets on Thursday. The reigning Rookie of the Year is on the Spurs’ inactive list.
However, Wembanyama was earlier said to be on a minute restriction again as a precaution after dealing with a few bumps and bruises but was later moved to the inactive list. He has played in two out of four games, including Tuesday’s 120-117 loss to the Miami Heat on the road.
Victor Wembanyama preseason stats and performance
Wembanyama played 23 minutes in his preseason debut against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 9. He had 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks, but he looked rusty with his shots as he went 4 of 15, including 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
Against the Heat on Tuesday, Wembanyama was restricted to 17 minutes in which he dropped eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two stocks (one steal and one block). He went 3 of 6 from the floor, looking more efficient, albeit on a low volume of shot attempts.
There’s not much to assess about Wembanyama, but one thing that has stood out is he’s pushing to be more versatile with his skillset. He has looked engaged in every facet of the game, be it scoring, playmaking and playing defense from anywhere on the floor, which are encouraging signs as he enters his sophomore season.
Victor Wembanyama is also meshing well with the Spurs’ new addition, Chris Paul. The veteran is the ideal point guard to complement the 20-year-old as he looks to expand his game.
How to watch Victor Wembanyama in action vs. Houston Rockets?
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will be the visiting team in Thursday’s clash against inter-state rivals, the Rockets. The game will be covered by local operators, CW35 (San Antonio) and Space City Home Network (Houston). Meanwhile, NBA League Pass will be an online streaming option for viewers outside the local regions.
The game begins at 8:00 p.m. ET at Toyota Center, the Rockets’ homecourt. It’s an interesting matchup, particularly for Wembanyama, as he gets to go against two different types of centers, Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. It will be a good rehearsal for him for the Spurs’ season opener against the Mavericks on Oct. 24.
Edited by Arhaan Raje