Where is Victor Wembanyama? Spurs Star’s Surprising Absence Vs Bulls Revealed
via Imago
Wembanyama reportedly suffered a back injury during the late minutes of the loss against the Suns. While 6 ’11 Zach Collins was expected to replace him on the starting lineup, the latest update revealed that Jeremy Sochan picked up the No.5 spot. The Spurs had a clean injury slate before it, suddenly the team added Wemby’s name, citing a bilateral low back soreness. Notably, this is the fourth miss for the rising star this season. Earlier, he missed three games in a row, owing to a knee injury.
Jeremy Sochan is returning to the starting lineup tonight….at center.
The full starting five:
Chris Paul
Stephon Castle
Julian Champagnie
Harrison Barnes
Jeremy Sochan— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) December 6, 2024
While the Spurs haven’t revealed the number of games that Victor Wembanyama would miss, it’s definitely a great day for the Bulls to work on their streak. The last time the Chicago team got on a winning streak was on October 30. Moreover, the team also listed three main players, Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Lonzo Ball, on the injury report ahead of the game. Somehow, Giddey, who was Questionable with a sprained ankle, made it to the lineup. So, Wemby’s absence was in a way an act of balance of power.
At the same time, Zach LaVine, the leader of the Bulls, said, “I think Wemby is off the charts… I think he’s the best defensive player in the league,” ahead of the game. Unfortunately, he has to wait a bit longer to face him.
Coming into the 2024-25 season, Victor Wembanyama is undoubtedly a threat but still a work in progress. In the last season, Coach Greg Popovich used the rookie on minute restriction without worrying about the 60 imposing losses. The veteran coach stood on his business to develop a talent for the years to come. Guess what? It certainly paid dividends.
With almost two months into the season, Wemby is already the Best Defensive Player in the West for the months of October and November. Despite having a dynamic offensive bag that is scattered all over the court, he also holds a strong on the defensive end. Notably, he led the league on blocks last season, recording four per game. Apart from denying buckets near the rim, he also blocks shots near the perimeter with his long wing span.
By now, it should have been clear how the Bulls can take advantage of the Wemby-less Spurs. Zach LaVine & Co. can attack the paint and outscore the Texas side meanwhile taking more shots from the perimeter as well. Heading into halftime, the Bulls have already stamped their authority with a 16-point lead and outscored the Spurs on the paint with 36 points. Will Chris Paul & Co. bounce back? Let us know in the comments.
