Victor Wembanyama's MVP candidacy at risk after another injury right before playoffs

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With the NBA playoffs set to begin next Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to bring back their glory days of winning five titles from 1999 to 2014.

Victor Wembanyama has been the primary reason for the team's return to playoff basketball, leading the NBA in blocks per game for the third time in as many seasons while averaging 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, both career highs.

However, the 7-foot-4 phenom not only suffered a rib contusion on Monday night, putting him at risk for the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but his MVP candidacy is also at risk.

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Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs reacts to an injury during the Philadelphia 76ers game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

The NBA states that players must play 65 games in order to receive votes for season awards such as MVP and All-NBA teams. However, Wembanyama has played in 63.

That number does not include the NBA Cup Final, which actually does not count toward the stat sheet, but the NBA does count it toward the season-award total, marking him just a bit safer.

If Wembanyama wants to be named MVP, the NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player logs between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the league-required minimum of 65 games played for award eligibility. Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half on Monday.

Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers reaches out to an injured Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026. (Ronald