Crisis Averted Wembanyama Retains Grip on DPOY Lead After Scary Knee Hyperextension
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 3, 2026
For a few terrifying minutes on New Year’s Eve, the entire NBA held its breath. Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ alien centerpiece and the runaway favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, was down.
Today, the Spurs and their fanbase can finally exhale.
Despite a gruesome-looking fall during Wednesday’s 134-132 thriller against the New York Knicks, sources confirm that Wembanyama has avoided major injury. An MRI performed Thursday revealed no ligament damage in his left knee, validating the star’s own post-game assessment that the injury was “minimal.” While he sat out Friday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers as a precaution, his status as the league’s premier defender remains—for now—untouched.
The Moment the Frost Bank Center Went Silent
The incident occurred with 10:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama leaped to contest a rebound over Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns. There was no contact, but as the 7-foot-4 phenom landed, his left foot slid forward, causing his knee to buckle backward awkwardly.
“I was this close to coming back in the game,” Wembanyama told reporters after the win, noting that team doctors physically had to hold him back from returning to the court. “It’s a good thing it was just a hyperextension.”
Although he limped to the locker room unassisted—yelling “I’ll be back!” to the crowd—the Spurs (24-9) are taking no chances. The team listed him as day-to-day, opting to keep him in San Antonio for rehab rather than traveling to Indiana.
The DPOY Race: Still Wembanyama’s to Lose
Before this scare, Wembanyama had just returned from a calf injury to reclaim the top spot on the Defensive Player of the Year ladder. His impact is statistical and psychological; opposing offenses actively avoid the paint when he is on the floor.
Despite the missed time, he remains the heavy favorite. His defensive rating and block numbers are historic, bridging the gap between late December and early January with a dominance rarely seen in the modern era. However, the margins are thinning. With the NBA’s 65-game rule for award eligibility looming, Wembanyama has already missed 13 games. He can afford only four more absences before disqualifying himself from year-end honors.
What’s Next for the Spurs?
San Antonio survived the Knicks in a shootout to close 2025, but the focus now shifts to longevity. The Spurs are currently leading the Southwest Division, a testament to their rapid rebuild. Wembanyama is listed as questionable for Saturday’s home tilt against the Portland Trail Blazers.
If he returns this weekend, he solidifies his DPOY campaign. If the knee lingers, the door cracks open for the field—not because they are better defenders, but because the best ability is availability.
