The San Antonio Spurs face a significant setback as their standout rookie, Victor Wembanyama, is set to miss the Monday night showdown against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle. The 7-foot-3 French center, who has quickly become a pivotal figure in the Spurs lineup, suffered the injury during a disheartening 131-106 loss to the Suns on Saturday. Despite the injury, Wembanyama’s condition is not considered severe, raising hopes for his swift return to the court.

After attempting to push through the discomfort during Saturday’s matchup—where he managed to contribute 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a block in 21 minutes—the decision was made to sit him out for the upcoming game. San Antonio’s coach, Gregg Popovich, provided an optimistic outlook on Wembanyama’s situation, suggesting that it’s “a little better than 50-50” that the center will be available for Wednesday’s game against Utah. This prognosis came after Wembanyama participated in the team’s morning shootaround, a positive sign indicating the injury may not sideline him for long.

Wembanyama’s absence is a considerable blow to the Spurs, who have leaned heavily on the rookie’s impressive performances throughout the season. With averages of 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, he has not only made a strong case for the NBA Rookie of the Year award but has also emerged as a beacon of hope for a franchise navigating through a challenging season.

Despite the phenom’s contributions, San Antonio finds itself grappling with the prospect of finishing with the worst record in franchise history. Currently standing at 15-56, the Spurs must secure at least five wins in their remaining 11 games to steer clear of surpassing the 20-62 record set in 1997. Wembanyama’s potential return against Utah could be crucial in bolstering the team’s efforts to avoid this unwelcome milestone, highlighting his central role in both the present and future aspirations of the franchise.