San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama voiced frustration with the NBA’s concussion protocol after returning for Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Wembanyama said after Sunday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers that he felt the way the protocol was handled was “very disappointing.” He refused to open up about why, though he did say the doctors involved in treating him were “great.”
Victor Wembanyama said he doesn’t want to get into details on his potency in the NBA concussion protocol and be a distraction, but he did have this to say:
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) April 27, 2026
“The doctors all around, they were great. Took great care of me. But the way the situation was handled was very… pic.twitter.com/iIgVkqd0us
ESPN’s Shams Charania offered more context on Monday in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He suggested that there was conflict between the Spurs’ doctors and the NBA’s concussion doctors over whether Wembanyama would be cleared to play in Game 3.
“He felt he was cleared to play Friday. He felt like the Spurs doctors had cleared him to play. And that’s why the frustration comes into play when the league decides he wasn’t,” Charania said.
"Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs believed that he was cleared to play in game three..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 27, 2026
He was pissed that he wasn't able to play"@ShamsCharania #PMSLive https://t.co/X8iUDTE1mG pic.twitter.com/WlCfilHvcf
Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2 when he fell hard and hit his head on the floor. He was ruled out of Game 3, though he still attended and let the Blazers have it from the bench.
Ultimately, Wembanyama returned for Game 4 and put up 27 points and 12 rebounds. His Spurs can close out the series in Game 5 Tuesday with one more victory.
