Victor Wembanyama has a shot at fulfilling the NBA’s 65-game rule to be eligible for regular season awards after the Spurs upgraded the overwhelming favorite for the defensive player of the year award to available for Friday night’s game with Dallas.
Wembanyama, who is also a candidate for league MVP and the All-NBA team, is returning after missing one game due to a bruised left rib he sustained in Monday’s win over Philadelphia. He sat out Wednesday’s win over Portland.
Wembanyama got the green light from the medical staff shortly before tipoff after the club listed him as questionable in Thursday’s injury report.
Wembanyama must play in at least 20 minutes in either Friday’s game or Sunday’s regular season finale against Denver. The Spurs have said he will play in at least one of the remaining games.
While Wembanyama got upgraded, the Spurs decided to keep Stephon Castle on the sidelines for another game after he was listed as questionable with a few nagging injuries that forced him to sit out Wednesday’s game against Portland.
“Eighty games and the way he plays,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s real. We’re not just sitting him just to sit him.”