“Dings, rest, a little bit of everything.” That was Gregg Popovich’s reasoning for Victor Wembanyama missing Monday’s preseason opener against OKC. After leading his country to a silver medal in the Paris Olympics, Wemby did not get much off-time this summer. So, it makes sense to give him a few extra days of rest. However, the Spurs have their second game lined up tonight and the latest injury report provides a major update about the French sensation’s availability.

As per the report, Wemby’s rest is officially over and he will be making his preseason debut against the Magic. And the moment is expected to be even more iconic because we will finally get the first glimpse of the highly anticipated duo of Wemby and Chris Paul. Yes, CP will also play his first game for the Spurs tonight, making his debut alongside the 7’4 Center.

Ever since Paul joined the team on a one-year $11 million deal, fans have been waiting to see the duo in action. With the point guard’s IQ and playmaking skills, he could elevate Wemby’s game to the next level and lead the Spurs to a potential playoff push. Even Paul is looking forward to sharing the court with the big man, “I’m just excited like everybody else to get a chance to play alongside [Wembanyama] along with a lot of the other guys on the team.”

And Wemby is also hyped about teaming up with an elite star like CP, “Even now, looking at the rest of the league, I don’t see many guys who could bring this same amount of knowledge about the game as him… It’s a real change to have him.” While Wemby and Paul prepare for their preseason debut tonight, there are several Spurs players who will not suit up for the game.

Spurs Depth Chart as Five players expected to miss Magic encounter

Although Wemby and CP’s debut will hype up the Spurs fanbase, five key players will miss tonight’s game due to injuries. With Devin Vassell undergoing a right foot surgery during the summer, he will remain out of action for some time. He will undergo reevaluation next month to provide an expected timeline for his return. Meanwhile, Charles Bassey and Zach Collins are also recovering from their respective surgeries and will not play against the Magic.

Adding to that, Nathan Mensah and David Duke Jr. are also unavailable for the game due to undisclosed injuries. But with just over two weeks left for the regular season to start, many of these injured stars could return by that time. For now, though, the Spurs’ depth chart looks something like this:

While the Spurs lost their first preseason game on Monday, they could pick up their first win tonight with both Wembanyama and Paul available. And it will be the perfect confidence booster for the team heading into the regular season. What are your thoughts?