Spurs' Victor Wembanyama 'Eager to Play More'

Victor Wembanyama has not played more than 32 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs since December.

In the San Antonio Spurs' two games since coming back from the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama has put the league on notice. He has averaged 23 points, 11.5 rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and five steals. 

He's averaging only 31.1 minutes per game. 

© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY

Ever since tweaking his ankle on the foot of a Dallas Mavericks employee, Wembanyama has been on a minute restriction, rarely playing more than 30 minutes per game and sitting out the second half of back-to-backs for a decent stretch of the winter. 

Not only do fans and his teammates miss seeing him on the court, but he clearly wants to be out there trying to win games.

"I'm eager to play more," Wembanyama said after Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers "To have those minutes to help the team because sometimes I feel like I'm on the bench for a long time. But it's a job we got to do with the team medical staff. My stamina is as good as the minutes I'm going to play."

In the loss to LA, which was the second half of a back-to-back, Wembanyama recorded a 5x5 stat line, becoming the youngest player to do so. He also did it in only 30 minutes of play, making it the fastest of such games. 

Between the two games against the Sacramento Kings and Lakers, this was only Wembanyama's second time playing at least 30 minutes in both halves of a back-to-back, so clearly the rehab to his ankle is coming to an end, and the league will get to see an uninhibited Wemby for the first time in 2024. 

Ever since Wembanyama put the league on notice by saying that "every game is a statement from now on," he's been hampered by a minutes restriction. He knows that it's for his own safety, but it's been frustrating for him.

Spurs Signing Paul George Would 'Make Life Easier' for Wemby

Finally, the chains are coming off, and an entirely new level of play should be unlocked.