The San Antonio Spurs faced an anxious wait on Thursday night when their franchise player Victor Wembanyama left the court early against the Milwaukee Bucks. This crucial Western Conference matchup took a concerning turn within the opening minutes as the young star headed to the locker room.
Injury Details Emerge
Wembanyama's status immediately became the main story inside the arena. With no quick update from the Spurs organization, everyone watched the bench nervously as San Antonio continued playing without their most impactful presence on the floor.
What Happened During the Game?
The injury occurred with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. While defending a driving Giannis Antetokounmpo near the basket, Victor Wembanyama appeared to make knee-to-knee contact. He dropped to the floor, grabbed his right knee, and showed clear discomfort before getting back up.
Wembanyama limped off the court without assistance and moved quickly toward the locker room. Members of the Spurs medical staff followed him, along with Spurs CEO R.C. Buford. The team later listed him as questionable to return, though they shared no further details during the game itself.
Recent History Adds to Concerns
This play sparked particular worry due to recent events. On December 31, Wembanyama suffered a hyperextended knee against the New York Knicks in a similar situation. He returned to the bench that night but missed the next two games. Thursday's incident looked uncomfortably familiar, even as the Spurs avoided speculation and waited for proper medical evaluation.
San Antonio entered this matchup with a 27-13 record, while Milwaukee arrived at 17-23. The Spurs have managed Wembanyama's workload carefully this season after he missed multiple weeks earlier, making any knee-related issue an immediate priority for the team.
Haircut Story Before the Injury
Before this injury scare, Wembanyama had already drawn attention for a different reason. He arrived at the game with a completely shaved head, a look that sparked conversation across the league. This change followed San Antonio's recent blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to teammate Keldon Johnson, the decision came from a shared moment between players. "Vic was like, 'Yo, let's bald our head.' And I was like, 'Let's do it,'" Johnson explained. "I was trying to make sure everything went smooth, take my time...I had to fade it up a little bit at first. Then I gave him a little bowl cut and then we went from there."
Connection to Past Experiences
The haircut carried echoes of Wembanyama's offseason in China, where he trained with Shaolin monks and shaved his head during that period. He previously described that experience as putting his "body through things that it's not used to doing and allowing my range of movement and strength."
That phase coincided with one of the most productive stretches of his career. After starting the 2025-26 season, Wembanyama averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, showing remarkable development in his professional journey.
