Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for the San Antonio Spurs, was unexpectedly sidelined for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sprained right ankle. The incident occurred during his pregame warmup when he accidentally stepped on a ball boy’s foot.

The ball boy was on the baseline as Wembanyama completed a driving layup over a Spurs assistant coach, which led to the 7-foot-4 rookie rolling his ankle. Although Wembanyama had his ankle retaped, the Spurs opted to keep him out of the game following further assessment.

After the team’s 144-119 loss, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich remarked that he would have played Wembanyama if it had been a playoff game. However, he preferred to be cautious, especially since it was the same ankle that recently had a time limitation placed on it due to soreness.

“If it was a playoff game, I probably would’ve played him,” Popovich said. “He’s not happy about it, but I would rather err on the conservative side since it’s the same ankle that you just got a time limitation on. But just a freak, freak accident before the game.”

NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks Updates

Wembanyama, who missed Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness, had played 22 minutes in Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. He was again expected to be on a minutes restriction.

With 28 years of coaching experience in San Antonio, Popovich expressed that he had never witnessed an injury happen in such a manner, finding it hard to believe even after seeing it on film.

“You see it on the film, and you can’t believe it,” Popovich said.

NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks Updates

Wembanyama, selected first overall in the draft, has averaged 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game this season. He has been a key player for the Spurs, appearing in all but three games.