Victor Wembanyama was “very unhappy” with how the NBA handled his concussion protocol during the Spurs series against the Trail Blazers, which forced him to miss Game 3, and saying that the way the situation “was handled was very disappointing.”
The Spurs took a 3-1 series lead with a 114-93 win over the Blazers on Sunday night, but was clearly frustrated with the league’s concussion protocol during a postgame interview with Malika Andrews.
“I had lots of emotions in me before the game — obviously, excitement, frustration — so I let a lot out tonight,” he told her before Andrews asked about clearing the concussion protocols.
“The Spurs have done an amazing job,” Wembanyama said. “I’m very unhappy about the way the protocol has been handled by other parties. But my staff has been amazing. I’ve been really healthy, starting on Day 1 after the injury. The injury, it was weird, though. It was funny.”
The Spurs’ star fell hard to the floor during Game 2 against Portland and went into concussion protocol before San Antonio confirmed that Wembanyama had suffered a concussion after the game.
Wembanyama was given another chance to address the topic after the Game 4 win. Though he didn’t give much more detail on what upset him about the process, he reiterated his frustration.
“I won’t get into the details. I don’t want to become a distraction,” he said. “Ask me again after the end of the season. But again, all the doctors, especially on the Spurs, we have the doctors all around, they were great, took great care of me. But the way the situation was handled was very disappointing. Not on the Spurs, again. But as I said, I won’t get into the details.
“I’m not saying that not playing was a good or bad decision. It was a decision. I’m not saying it was good or bad, but the way the situation was handled, very disappointing.”
Wembanyama finished the game with 27 points and shot 9-of-17 from the field, while pulling down 11 rebounds, three assists and seven blocks.
The Spurs’ big man also had three steals by the end of the game.
