Is Victor Wembanyama on Minutes Restriction? Spurs Star’s Status Against Knicks in NBA Cup Final Explored (Dec. 16)

On Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will look to win their first-ever NBA Cup trophy when they face the New York Knicks in Las Vegas. However, the debate over whether Wembanyama will start the game or come off the bench continues to rage on, but coach Mitch Johnson dropped a hint about his choice for the biggest game of the season.

Wembanyama returned to action on Sunday from a brief calf strain that sidelined him for 12 of San Antonio’s first 25 games this season. The All-Star big man’s return gave the Spurs (18-7) the massive boost they needed to beat league leaders OKC. He went head-to-head with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, winning the game 111-109.

Wembanyama was on a minutes restriction. He came off the bench, playing 21 minutes and finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds and two assists. It was the second-lowest minute total of his NBA career.

The Spurs star center said he’s feeling good after getting back into the swing of things, but coach Johnson stressed the importance of managing his minutes carefully.

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“We are still learning and we want to be very mindful of that,” Johnson said, per reporter Brett Siegel.

Johnson refused to answer questions about managing his minutes on Tuesday against the Knicks, but it is still far too early to ramp up his workload, considering Victor Wembanyama is a very important piece of the franchise’s long-term plans.

Barring any late changes, Wembanyama is expected to remain on a minutes restriction, with Luke Kornet likely stepping in as his replacement.

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Victor Wembanyama’s stats vs. New York Knicks

Victor Wembanyama has averaged 32.0 points, 15.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in three games against the Knicks. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft missed only the final meeting last season, which San Antonio won 120-105.

His highest-scoring performance against New York came on Christmas Day last year, when he dropped 42 points in a 117-114 win.

Edited by Mervin LR