By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2026-01-13 15:00:40
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1号) 在2025年12月23日（星期二）于圣安东尼奥Frost Bank中心举行的比赛第四节中，面对俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (9号) 命中三分后庆祝。在经历了小腿拉伤和膝盖受伤之后，文班亚马最多只能再缺席四场比赛，才能保有赛季末奖项的评选资格。
俄克拉荷马城电 — 维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 在周日客场对阵明尼苏达的比赛中迎来了他2026年的首次首发，而他的马刺队友们很快就感受到了他所带来的影响。
当文班亚马在场时，森林狼队在第二节打了将近一分半钟才得到第一分。
“联盟里没有人在防守端能像文班那样，”马刺后卫 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 说道。“他总能让对手感受到他的存在。”
如果你觉得这听起来像是对身高7英尺4英寸的文班亚马赢得他首个NBA年度最佳防守球员奖项的强有力支持，那么没错，确实如此。
或者说，至少可能如此——前提是文班亚马能进入候选名单。
连续第二年，健康问题让文班亚马面临着无法达到联盟规定的65场比赛门槛的风险，而这正是获得赛季末奖项评选资格的必要条件。
在周二于俄克拉荷马城进行的全国直播焦点战之前，文班亚马最多只能再缺席四场比赛，才能保留其年度最佳防守球员、NBA最佳阵容和最有价值球员等奖项的评选资格。
只要再有一次脚踝扭伤——就像周日以103-104不敌明尼苏达的比赛中，文班亚马在笨拙地踩到鲁迪·戈贝尔 (Rudy Gobert) 的脚上后所幸避免的那种伤病——他的候选资格就将宣告终结。
文班亚马表示，他理解这项规则的目的。该规则于2023-24赛季前出台，旨在鼓励明星球员参加更多比赛，并遏制当时在全联盟范围内盛行的健康轮休现象。
当被问及是否密切关注自己的出场次数时，文班亚马说：“我确实会留意。但（医疗团队）会尽量让它成为一个尽可能小的影响因素，因为作为健康领域的专业人士，这并不是你应该做的事。”
本赛季早些时候，文班亚马因左小腿拉伤缺席了12场比赛。在新年夜对阵纽约的比赛中，他的左膝遭遇骨挫伤，又因此缺席了两场比赛。
当22岁的文班亚马在1月6日对阵孟菲斯的比赛中从后一种伤病中回归时，65场规则并非促使他迅速复出的最重要因素。
但它确实是考虑因素之一。
“这其中有很多变量，”马刺队教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 说。“那（65场规则）就是其中之一。”
得益于马刺队杀入了NBA杯的决赛——对手同样是尼克斯队——文班亚马得以在他的出场记录中增加一场额外的比赛。进入周二的比赛前，他已经出战了26场，常规赛还剩下43场。
2024-25赛季，肩部的深静脉血栓让文班亚马缺席了最后30场比赛，这让他本有望斩获年度最佳防守球员奖杯、入选NBA最佳阵容以及——可能的话——获得MVP选票的二年级赛季戛然而止。
尽管只出场了46场比赛，文班亚马依然以176次盖帽领跑全联盟。
这场盖帽竞赛的差距并不小。当时效力于密尔沃基的 布鲁克·洛佩斯 (Brook Lopez) 在80场比赛中送出148次封盖，排名第二。
然而，由于出场次数有限，投票者们不允许将文班亚马列为年度最佳防守球员或最佳防守阵容的候选人。
“这很艰难，因为这究竟是影响力的问题，还是单纯的出场次数问题？”马刺前锋 哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 说。“我理解。全联盟都需要在鼓励球员出场、上场比赛并做出贡献方面寻求一种平衡。但我认为，在另一个层面也需要平衡：对于那些只打了64场比赛但仍保持高水平发挥的球员，我们是否有些过于斤斤计较了？”
文班亚马的困境是整个NBA关于球员出勤率和奖项评选资格更广泛讨论的一部分。
包括文班亚马在内，今年春天本可能获得MVP选票的三名球员都面临着无法达到65场比赛门槛的风险——丹佛的 尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic) 、密尔沃基的 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 和洛杉矶湖人队的 卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 。
湖人队的另一位巨星 勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 连续21个赛季入选NBA最佳阵容的联盟纪录很可能会就此终结。在洛杉矶队最后45场比赛中，他一场都不能缺席，这对于一个有着慢性背伤的41岁老将来说，要求实在苛刻。
其他因缺席比赛而可能无缘入选NBA最佳阵容的著名球员还包括：新奥尔良的 锡安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) 、费城的 乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 以及达拉斯的 安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 。
65场规则不仅影响球员荣誉室里的奖杯，也影响他们的钱包。
一名球员要想获得所谓的“超级顶薪”续约合同，他必须曾获得过NBA最佳阵容、年度最佳防守球员或MVP奖项。
巴恩斯表示，他希望联盟和国家篮球运动员协会能在下一轮劳资协议谈判中重新考虑这项规则。
“我认为有很多事情可以拿出来讨论和重新审视，”巴恩斯说。“总的来说，我认为每个人都在尽最大努力上场比赛，并做好所有相关的事情。”
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1号) 在2025年12月18日（星期四）于圣安东尼奥举行的一场NBA比赛下半场中，封盖了华盛顿奇才队后卫布巴·卡林顿 (7号) 的一次投篮。在经历了小腿拉伤和膝盖受伤之后，文班亚马最多只能再缺席四场比赛，才能保有赛季末奖项的评选资格。
如果65场规则将要迎来改变，那至少也要等到2028-29赛季，即当前劳资协议的第一个合同跳出选项日期。
在此之前，马刺队和文班亚马只能寄望于在确保他健康和保住其奖项评选资格之间，小心翼翼地寻求平衡。
他的教练表示，当涉及到是否让文班亚马出场时，排在最优先位置的因素永远不会改变。
“他的长期健康，以及确保这个孩子不会因为他自己的好胜心而伤害到自己，”约翰逊说。“所有其他（关于奖项的）事情，我认为它们是真实存在的。我只是不知道它们最终会如何发展。这就是为什么我们不断进行这些对话，并且不会把任何事情板上钉钉。”
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up for a shot over Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the first quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. After dealing with a calf strain and a knee injury, Wembanyama can only miss four more games to remain eligible for postseason awards.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) slaps hands with his teammate Julian Champagnie (30) as they go into a timeout during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Thunder, 130-110.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. San Antonio beat Washington 119-94. Wembanyama had four blocks and 15 points in 17 minutes to help San Antonio beat Washington 119-94.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to drive on Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) during the first half of an NBA game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. San Antonio beat Washington 119-94.
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：Can Wemby play enough games to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Can Wemby play enough games to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after making three-pointer over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. After dealing with a calf strain and a knee injury, Wembanyama can only miss four more games to remain eligible for postseason awards.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Victor Wembanyama started his first game of 2026 on Sunday in Minnesota, and it didn’t take long for his fellow Spurs to feel the effects.
The Timberwolves were nearly a minute and a half into the second quarter before they had scored a point with Wembanyama on the court.
“Nobody in the league is like Vic on that side of the floor,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “He’s going to make his presence known.”
If that sounds like a ringing endorsement for the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama to win his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, it is.
Or at least it could be, so long as Wembanyama is on the ballot.
For the second year in a row, health concerns have left Wembanyama in jeopardy of falling short of the league’s 65-game threshold to remain eligible for postseason awards.
Heading into Tuesday’s nationally televised showdown at Oklahoma City, Wembanyama could miss only four more games and stay on the ballot for Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA and Most Valuable Player honors.
One ankle sprain — the likes of which Wembanyama appears to have avoided after landing awkwardly on Rudy Gobert’s foot during Sunday’s 104-103 loss at Minnesota — and his candidacy is kaput.
Wembanyama said he understands the purpose of the rule, which was put in place before the 2023-24 season as a means of cajoling stars to play in more games and curb healthy rest days that had become prevalent league-wide.
“I pay attention,” Wembanyama said when asked if he is keeping a close eye on his games played. “But (the medical staff) tries to let it be as small a factor as possible because as health professionals, it’s not something you’re supposed to do.”
Wembanyama missed 12 games earlier this season with a left calf strain. He missed two more after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee on New Year’s Eve against New York.
When the 22-year-old Wembanyama returned from the latter injury Jan. 6 at Memphis, the 65-game rule was not the most important factor spurring his quick comeback.
But it was on the list.
“There are a lot of variables that are in the mix,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “That’s one of them.”
Thanks to the Spurs’ advancement to the NBA Cup finals — also against the Knicks — Wembanyama was able to add an extra game to his ledger. Entering Tuesday, he had logged 26 appearances with 43 regular-season contests remaining.
A bout of deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder cost Wembanyama the final 30 games of his 2024-25 season, short-circuiting a sophomore campaign that was almost certainly on its way to earning him a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, an All-NBA nod and — possibly — MVP votes.
Despite appearing in only 46 games, Wembanyama still led the league in total blocks with 176.
The race wasn’t close. Brook Lopez, then with Milwaukee, finished second with 148 swats in 80 games.
And yet, voters were not allowed consider Wembanyama for Defensive Player of the Year or an All-Defensive team due to his limited games played.
“It’s tough, because is it a matter of impact or is it a matter of simply being out there for games?” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said. “I get it. There’s a balance league-wide for guys to play, guys to be out there and guys to contribute. But I think there’s also a balance between, are we splitting hairs with guys who play in 64 games, but are still playing at a high level?”
Wembanyama’s plight is part of a broader discussion across the NBA about player availability and awards eligibility.
Including Wembanyama, three players who might otherwise garner MVP votes this spring are in danger of falling short of the 65-game threshold — Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and the L.A. Lakers’ Luka Doncic.
Fellow Lakers star LeBron James is likely to see his league-record streak of All-NBA seasons end at 21 in a row. He cannot miss even one of Los Angeles’ final 45 games, a tough ask for a 41-year-old with a chronically bad back.
Other notable names who are unlikely to be coming to an All-NBA team near you due to missed time include New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.
The 65-game rule does not only affect the hardware on a player’s mantle. It also affects their pocketbooks.
In order for a player to be eligible for a so-called “supermax” extension, he must have earned an All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year or MVP award.
Barnes said he hopes the league and National Basketball Players Association will rethink the rule in the next round of collective bargaining negotiations.
“I think there’s a lot of things that can be talked about and revisited,” Barnes said. “Just in general, I think everyone is doing their best to be out there for the games and do all that type of stuff.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1)blocks a sot by Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) during the second half of an NBA game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. After dealing with a calf strain and a knee injury, Wembanyama can only miss four more games to remain eligible for postseason awards.
If a change in the 65-game rule is coming, it won’t be until at least 2028-29, the first opt-out date for the current CBA.
Until then, the Spurs and Wembanyama will hope to successfully toe the fine line of keeping him healthy while also keeping him eligible for awards.
When it comes to putting Wembanyama on the floor, the tip-top-of-the-list factor will never change, his coach said.
“His long-term health and making sure we keep that kid from himself in terms of his competitiveness,” Johnson said. “All the other (awards) stuff, I think it’s real. I just don’t know where it all falls. That’s why we continuously have these conversations, and we don’t put anything in stone."
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News