San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion after a brutal fall in the second quarter of the team’s defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, and footage of the incident is gruesome.
The Frenchman played 12 minutes before concussion protocol ruled him out for the remainder of the game, as the Spurs fell to a 106–103 loss in Game Two of their play-off campaign.
Wembanyama tried to dribble through the Trail Blazers’ defence but tripped before shooting, then fell to the floor and hit his head against the court, appearing to briefly lose consciousness.
As his teammates – Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant and Harrison Barnes – gathered around him, the 22-year-old struggled to get to his feet and stumbled as he tried to regain his footing.
Advert
He was then pulled out of the game in line with NBA concussion protocol.
The league’s concussion policy states: “If a player is diagnosed with a concussion, he cannot return to full participation without restrictions (i) for at least 48 hours after the time of injury; and (ii) until after he completes the required return-to-participation process.
“A player who is diagnosed with a concussion should have his physical and cognitive exertion limited under the direction of his team’s medical staff. After a brief period of rest (24–48 hours) following injury, the player can be encouraged, under the direction of a team physician, to become gradually and progressively more active, so long as the activity level does not bring on or worsen the player’s symptoms.
“Accordingly, a player who is diagnosed with a concussion should consider limiting his use of electronic games and devices, be educated by a member of the team’s medical staff about the need for appropriate sleep, nutrition and hydration, and limit his exposure to large groups of people until he is cleared by a member of the team’s medical staff to do so (e.g. refrain from any post-game fan appreciation activities or media availability).”
It remains unclear whether the NBA star will return ahead of his side’s third play-off match in Portland on Friday (April 24).
Before then, he will undergo several tests, with doctors set to make a decision on his fitness.
When asked about the player’s condition after the match, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said: “I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol.
“We’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps.”
Topics: NBA, Injury, Basketball
Luke Davies