Spurs fans got hit with some bad news right before tip-off—Victor Wembanyama is out tonight against the Heat. Just 40 minutes before the game, boom, he’s ruled out. Not exactly the kind of last-minute update anyone wanted to see or hear. This is already his sixth missed game of the season, and you gotta wonder just how bad this illness is if it’s keeping him off the court.

Wemby has suffered from allergies following his return from France.

“Allergy has been hitting more than ever. Makes sense, but just since we came back, though, so it’s getting better,” the youngster said. On Friday afternoon, while he discussed his condition after the game, his voice revealed the extent of difficulty he faced while hooping. According to him, his seasonal allergies persisted unusually strongly throughout this period.

But you wouldn’t notice any signs of illness while observing him during his game. He demonstrated a spectacular performance, scoring 30 points along with 14 rebounds and blocking 6 shots in his total domination of the Bucks. That’s just Wemby being Wemby.

This allergy thing isn’t new to him, though. Since getting to San Antonio as the No. 1 pick last year, it’s been something he’s had to deal with. It didn’t seem like a huge issue a couple of days ago, but clearly, it was bad enough to keep him out today. The Spurs aren’t about to take any risks with their franchise guy, so they’re playing it safe. Probably the right call, but still, it sucks not seeing him out there.

Victor Wembanyama’s Absence: Impact on the Spurs

Alright, so with Wemby out, the Spurs are gonna have to get creative. That means more minutes for Sandro Mamukelashvili, Charles Bassey, and Zach Collins at the center. Not exactly an easy assignment when you’re up against a gritty Heat team. Jimmy Butler isn’t playing either, which helps, but Miami is one of those teams that always find a way to stay competitive.

The Spurs must rely heavily on Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell to produce a major performance because they cannot replace Wemby’s contributions as a player. The San Antonio team will need their players to exceed the usual standards, covering for Victor Wembanyama’s dual-threat impact on defense and offense. The talisman is averaging 24.6 points alongside 10.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game so far. He’s a game-changer, especially defensively. That’s a lot to make up for.

The one thing the Spurs have going for them? They’ve been scrappy all season. This team has fought through tough spots before, and they’ll have to do it again tonight. It won’t be easy, but they’ve got no choice but to step up and grind this one out.

People wonder about the duration of Wemby’s expected absence. The team shows positive signs, yet it’s difficult to determine outcomes because of allergies. The condition aggressively switches between causing zero problems and causing complete devastation. Exactly a year ago, Wemby confirmed that he was stocked up on his meds. “Yeah, a little bit from the docs’,” he said.

Medical personnel will observe the youngster continuously until doctors confirm his full readiness to return to the court. They understand the duration of the season, so they probably won’t push him to return until he’s fully ready.

The team now faces major competition in tonight’s matchup, although such circumstances might push teammates to showcase their full potential. Still, no question about it—the sooner Wemby’s back, the better.