The San Antonio Spurs have stayed red-hot without Victor Wembanyama, going 9–3 since he suffered a calf strain. They’ve done it despite also being without rookie Stephon Castle for much of that stretch. De’Aaron Fox has carried the load, scoring 25 or more in nine of his past 12 outings and giving San Antonio the downhill shot-creation they desperately lacked.
But as the Spurs head into the NBA Cup semifinals to face the league’s top defense in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama’s return becomes critical. Fortunately for San Antonio, head coach Mitch Johnson delivered a positive update on the superstar’s status for Saturday’s matchup.
Is Victor Wembanyama Playing Against the Thunder in the NBA Cup Semifinals?
The Spurs have clearly found their franchise cornerstone in Wembanyama, but injuries have complicated the early stages of his career. He was limited to 71 games as a rookie and just 46 the previous season, which ultimately affected his awards eligibility.
Wembanyama started this season strong, until he strained his left calf against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14. Since then, he has been progressing steadily in his recovery. And after the Spurs’ impressive win over the Lakers in the quarterfinals, Johnson delivered the update fans were hoping for: Wembanyama is on track to return for the semifinals.
“Very much so,” Johnson said on the chances of the Spurs getting Wemby back for Saturday’s game, via Mark Medina. “He had a very good day today. He had a good intent day this morning, and we’ll have to see how he responds and reacts tomorrow.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson on if Victor Wembanyama can return for NBA Cup semifinal vs OKC on Sat: “Very much so. He had a very good day today. He had a very intense day this morning. We’ll have to see how he responds and reacts tomorrow.”
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 11, 2025
The 21-year-old was spotted participating in shootaround before Wednesday’s game, but the team held him out as a precaution. The 7-foot-5 phenom has now missed nearly a month of action, with his last appearance coming on Nov. 14 against Golden State.
Despite his absence, the Spurs have held their own, winning nine of the 12 games he has missed. Their interior defense has wavered at times, but their offense has remained strong, highlighted by a 132–119 win over the Lakers in the quarterfinals.
Castle, who recently returned from injury, erupted for 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. In comparison, De’Aaron Fox added 20 points as five additional Spurs scored in double figures.
However, the Thunder enter the semifinals on a dominant run, and slowing them down without Wembanyama would be a daunting task. In his 12 appearances this season, Wemby has established himself as the Spurs’ top scorer (26.2 points), while also leading the NBA in rebounds (12.9) and blocks (3.6) per game.
