After sitting out Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA’s concussion protocol, Victor Wembanyama was back in prime form Sunday to lead the San Antonio Spurs in a Game 4 win.
But all wasn’t well with Wembanyama after the game. The superstar Spurs center was asked about his experience in concussion protocol in his postgame interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. He was not pleased.
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“The Spurs have done an amazing job,” Wembanyama told Andrews. “I’m very unhappy about the way the protocol has been handled by other parties.
“My staff has been amazing. I’ve been really healthy starting on Day 1 after the injury. It was weird, though. It was funny.”
Wembanyama asked to follow up in postgame presser
And that was that — for his postgame interview, at least. Wembanyama didn’t elaborate on what bothered him, and Andrews steered the interview from there to another direction.
But Wembanyama was asked again to elaborate his postgame news conference. He again declared displeasure with the protocol process while making clear that he wasn’t upset with the Spurs.
“I won’t get into the details,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again after the end of the season.”
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He then paused for a beat before continuing.
“Again, our doctors, especially on the Spurs, but the doctors all around. They were great. They took great care of me. But the way that the situation was handled was very disappointing. Not on the Spurs, again.”
Wembanyama’s mic appeared to cut out at that point, but he continued to elaborate without declaring exactly what about the process bothered him.
“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.”
When asked, Wembanyama then declared that “I’m feeling great.”
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So this appears to be a stay-tuned situation.
With the Spurs holding a 3-1 lead and a win away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs, Wembanyama says that he doesn’t want to create a distraction. He didn’t go into what precisely bothered him about his experience in the NBA’s concussion protocol and who he believes is to blame for what he’s displeased with — just that he’s happy with San Antonio’s medical staff.
But it sounds like he wants to talk. And he might have more to share once San Antonio’s season is done.
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