An NBA fan traveled thousands of miles across the world to watch Victor Wembanyama, only for fate to flip the script at the last moment.
The San Antonio Spurs hosted the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, and fans inside Frost Bank Center were eager to see the 22-year-old phenom continue his monster MVP campaign.
But minutes before the game, devastating news broke Wembanyama was ruled out with a rib contusion, leaving many stunned, including one fan who had journeyed all the way from Italy.
During the broadcast, cameras captured the fan holding a sign that read: “We came all the way from Italy to see Wemby!” The moment instantly went viral.
A video posted on X by Rob Perez showed the emotional exchange and quickly racked up views. The clip highlighted just how massive Wemby’s global reach has become fans aren’t just traveling from nearby cities.
Even without their franchise cornerstone, the Spurs pulled off a 112–101 victory. But the win felt secondary compared to Wembanyama’s injury update.
Just two days earlier, the French star logged 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocks in only 16 minutes before taking a painful shot to the ribs against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Wembanyama has been battling neck-and-neck with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in this year’s MVP race. Analysts, including Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, recently praised Wemby’s growth and dominance.
Head coach Mitch Johnson offered a cautious update: Wembanyama is “improving” but is also unlikely to play Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.