Chris Nowinski left a high-level meeting with NFL players and executives during a break on Thursday because he wanted to talk about Victor Wembanyama. The concussion specialist had seen the 7-foot-4 forward’s chin slam into the hardwood in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round, and he said the 22-year-old showed signs that the injury was serious.
“It was an ugly concussion,” Nowinski said. “It was a tough fall. His head bounced off the court aggressively.” Wembanyama left Game 2 and did not return, and Nowinski said he got up and went straight to the locker room.
Nowinski was speaking while working with the NFL Players Association at the annual Mackey-White Health and Safety meetings, where an NBA players union rep was also present. He said the first thing he noticed was that Wembanyama was slow to get up. He also said it was hard to tell whether the Spurs star was unconscious, adding that there was a brief period when he did not move, then lost his balance as he first got to his feet, which Nowinski said fit the pattern of a concussion.
On Thursday, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama “looks good” and will travel with the team to Portland, but the forward still must pass a series of tests before he can play. That matters because Game 3 is set for Friday night at 10:30 p.m. ET, about 74 hours after the injury on Tuesday night, and the NBA’s concussion protocol requires at least 48 hours before a player can return to full participation, along with cognitive tests that must be completed and passed.
Nowinski said that 48-hour window reflects the NBA’s every-other-day schedule more than the latest neurological science. He said NBA players often return to full participation faster than players in the NFL, where the return-to-play process includes a five-step protocol every concussed athlete must pass.
The Spurs were tied 1-1 in the series against the Portland Trail Blazers when Wembanyama’s status became uncertain, and San Antonio won the season series against Portland without him in any of the three games. For now, the matchup turns on whether the Spurs have their best player, or just the memory of what happened when he hit the floor on Tuesday night.