This is an organization that once held out Tim Duncan from the 2000 playoffs, choosing his future over the present:
“With him, you’ve got an opportunity to win multiple championships, if you don’t screw it up,” Pop said at the time.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs holds his head after falling to the court against the Portland Trailblazers in the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
The San Antonio Spurs are playing the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of their first-round series in a matchup that will not feature NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama was questionable before the game after being in concussion protocol, and while there was hope that he could get back on the floor for San Antonio, he was ruled out for Game 3 shortly before tipoff.
Still, the Spurs have a major task ahead on Friday night, and before the game, they announced their starting lineup against Portland.
In the lead-up to Game 3, the Spurs confirmed their starting five with a social media post.
De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Luke Kornet were all named to the starting lineup by head coach Mitch Johnson and his staff.
Outside of Kornet, who is in for Wembanyama, this is the group San Antonio has been going with for most of the season. But without the franchise star, Fox, Castle, as well as the wings, which includes newly crowned Sixth Man Of The Year, Keldon Johnson, will all take on an increased scoring role in Game 3.
Kornet, as well as the other Spurs’ big men will be responsible for replacing Wembaynama’s impact rebounding and on the defensive end of the floor against a scrappy Portland squad.
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second half of their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 01, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
Wembanyama suffered a scary concussion after a fall in Game 2 against the Trail Blazers. Immediately, speculation circulated that he knocked himself out, but the star got up shortly after and ran to the locker room.
He then went into concussion protocol, and while his status remained uncertain, Wembanyama traveled with the Spurs to Portland for the next two games in their first-round series.
The star was then seen at team shootaround before Game 3, sparking hope that he very well could play just three days after suffering the concussion.
However, shortly before Game 3, Johnson announced that Wembanyama was ruled out for Friday night, as Michael C. Wright of ESPN was the first to report the news.
The injury update came less than two hours before tipoff, so the fact that San Antonio waited that long to announce his final status could hint that he is close to making a return.
According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, NBA players typically miss seven to ten days with a concussion, but with Wembanyama traveling for Games 3 and 4, that signals the Spurs have hope he will return sooner than that.
Still, the star was ruled out for Game 3 on Friday and his status for Game 4 remains uncertain; but a return in the Sunday game could very much be in play.
“He’s doing well and progressing,” Johnson said after ruling Wembanyama out, per Wright.
This is an organization that once held out Tim Duncan from the 2000 playoffs, choosing his future over the present:
“With him, you’ve got an opportunity to win multiple championships, if you don’t screw it up,” Pop said at the time.
For now, San Antonio faces a major test ahead as they were shocked by the Blazers in Game 2. The Spurs were heavily favored in the series, but will have to take back home-court advantage with a win on Friday.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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