By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2026-01-16 14:28:53
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1) 在第一节与密尔沃基雄鹿队前锋扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (34) 相撞后走下赛场。拍摄于2026年1月15日，星期四，圣安东尼奥的冰霜银行中心。
对于马刺队球星维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 而言，要在NBA立足，很大程度上取决于信任。
信任他的教练。信任医疗团队。信任他的队友。信任过程。
当文班亚马在周三一屁股坐上理发椅，并将电推剪交给并非持证专业理发师的队友凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 时，他又一次将自己那无畏的信念置于考验之中。
文班亚马真的放心把自己的头皮交给约翰逊吗？要知道，这位马刺队前锋以其风驰电掣般的突破闻名，而非细腻的手法。
“我的意思是，如果计划就是把头发（全）剃光，那还能出什么岔子呢？”文班亚马说，“这事你搞砸不了。”
电推剪嗡嗡作响，约翰逊在关键时刻顶住了压力。两人一时兴起，轮流为对方剃了光头。
身高7英尺4英寸的文班亚马，在周四主场对阵密尔沃基雄鹿队的比赛中亮相时，看起来就像是世界上最高的“光头神探”科贾克（Kojak）模仿者，而身高6英尺5英寸的约翰逊则成了他的迷你版。
维克托·文班亚马因膝盖受伤离场。为他祈祷
pic.twitter.com/jy0fBR9Kaq
— Basketball Forever (@ bballforever_) January 16, 2026
就在将自己脑袋的命运交到约翰逊手中24小时后，文班亚马在冰霜银行中心的地板上又经历了一场信任的考验。
在周四马刺以119-101大胜雄鹿的比赛中，开场仅2分42秒，文班亚马在试图防守密尔沃基球星扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的一次强力突破时，与对方膝盖相撞。
文班亚马不得不相信他的队友们能在没有他的情况下守住阵地，而这已经不是第一次了。
“就是一次膝盖对膝盖的碰撞，这种事我经历过几十次了，”文班亚马说，“但从来没有撞上过像他那样的家伙。”
随着冰霜银行中心陷入一片沉寂，文班亚马单腿一瘸一拐地走过整个球场，径直返回了马刺队的更衣室。他在那里度过了第一节的剩余时间。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1) 在第一节与密尔沃基雄鹿队前锋扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (34) 相撞。拍摄于2026年1月15日，星期四，圣安东尼奥的冰霜银行中心。文班亚马在被吹罚防守犯规后随即一瘸一拐地走下赛场。
这标志着在文班亚马过去七次出场中，他第四次出现跛行的情况，尽管其中只有两场比赛因此错过了上场时间。
尽管如此……
“眼睁睁看着你的大个子又一次倒下，那种感觉真的很难受，”前锋朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 说道。
每当文班亚马一瘸一拐地离开NBA赛场时，他的马刺队友们非但没有自怨自艾，反而只为他感到难过。
“我为他感到难过，因为他们（脏话）简直是冲着他来的，”尚帕尼说。“说实话，千真万确，他们对他下手相当狠。显然他能应付这些，但他背上已经有了一个巨大的靶子。”
文班亚马的决心值得称赞。
他明白自己身处每支球队防守战术的靶心，而这些战术几乎总是包括像在后巷里对付黑帮告密者一样，对他进行粗暴的身体对抗。
“但我们同样也将对手的头号球星作为目标，”文班亚马说，“绝不是用肮脏的方式，但这只是我们所有人都必须经历的一部分。”
当明尼苏达森林狼队周六造访冰霜银行中心时，文班亚马别指望对手会手下留情。
在六天前于明尼阿波利斯进行的一场激烈比赛中，森林狼以104-103险胜，文班亚马为马刺队贡献了29分、3次抢断，以及身上约莫五六处青一块紫一块的新伤。
在那场比赛中，明尼苏达队让身高6英尺9英寸、体重250磅的“攻城锤”朱利叶斯·兰德尔 (Julius Randle) 对抗这位22岁的法国人，并取得了最佳效果。
尽管每晚都遭受“围殴”，文班亚马表示，在赛季中点，他的感觉“比预想的要好”。
“我浑身上下都酸痛，就像联盟里的每个人一样，”文班亚马说，“也和大家一样疲惫，但我本以为我的关节会更疼。”
至少，马刺队已经学会了如何在文班亚马缺席整场或部分比赛时生存。
本赛季早些时候，当文班亚马因左小腿拉伤缺阵时，他们取得了9胜3负的战绩。
当文班亚马在跨年夜对阵纽约尼克斯队的比赛中因左膝骨挫伤不得不退场时，他们坚持到了最后并赢下了比赛。
在他们全明星中锋缺阵的情况下，马刺队在接下来对阵印第安纳和波特兰的比赛中取得了一胜一负。
而在周四对阵雄鹿的比赛中，马刺在文班亚马待在更衣室期间成功稳住了阵脚，带着31-27的领先优势进入第二节。
“我知道他会重返赛场，并打出他应有的表现，”后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 说。“我们对此并不太担心。在那一刻，我们只专注于场上的五名球员。”
文班亚马在第二节开始时回到了场上。当他新剃的光头从通往球场的球员通道中出现时，主场观众爆发出雷鸣般的欢呼，仿佛这是NBA总决赛的第七场。
文班亚马在周四的比赛中出场22分钟，得到22分，命中5记三分球，并有10个篮板和2次盖帽。由于比赛早已失去悬念，他第四节一秒钟都没有上场。
对于在周四与阿德托昆博和雄鹿队的缠斗中带着点伤痛离场，他并不感到意外。
“对抗像扬尼斯这样的球员，我想你必须准备好豁出身体去拼，”文班亚马说。“无论如何，你都不可能毫发无损地离开。”
这又让文班亚马回想起周三下午在理发椅上的情景，那时他发现自己最鲁莽的队友之一，其实也有一双轻柔的手。
在给文班亚马剃光头时，约翰逊的动作不得不放慢。原因对于任何一个最近一直在关注文班亚马所遭受的“毒打”的人来说，都不足为奇。
“我当时想小心一点，因为他（在之前的比赛里）被打到了，”约翰逊说。“他头上起了个包。所以，我想确保整个过程都顺利进行。”
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) smiles as he walks off the court following a 119-109 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talk after playing against each other at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Bucks, 119-109.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talk after playing against each other at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Bucks, 119-109.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) takes a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Bucks, 119-109.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) dunks on the Milwaukee Bucks with an assist from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1), not pictured, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Bucks, 119-109.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to pass in a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up to block a shot by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to make a pass around Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks onto the court as the starting line up is announced for the home game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
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：As he takes opponents' best shots, Victor Wembanyama keeps the faith
As he takes opponents’ best shots, Victor Wembanyama keeps the faith
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks off the court after colliding with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
For Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, so much of surviving life in the NBA comes down to trust.
Trust his coaches. Trust the medical staff. Trust his teammates. Trust the process.
When Wembanyama plopped down in a barber chair on Wednesday and passed the clippers to one Keldon Johnson — who is not a licensed cosmetologist — he put that fearless faith to the test again.
Did Wembanyama really trust his scalp to Johnson, a Spurs forward known more for breakneck drives than a delicate touch?
“I mean, what can go wrong if the plan is to cut it (all) off?” Wembanyama said. “You can’t mess that up.”
Shears abuzz, Johnson came through in the clutch. On a wild hair, the two players took turns shaving each other’s heads.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama showed up for Thursday’s home game against Milwaukee looking like the world’s tallest Kojak impersonator, with the 6-5 Johnson his Mini-Me.
Victor Wembanyama has exited the game with a knee injury. Prayers up
— Basketball Forever (@ bballforever_) January 16, 2026
Twenty-four hours after putting the fate of his head in Johnson’s hands, Wembanyama endured another trust exercise on the floor of the Frost Bank Center.
A mere 2:42 into the Spurs’ 119-101 shredding of the Bucks on Thursday, Wembanyama banged knees with Giannis Antetokounmpo while trying to defend one of the Milwaukee star’s powerful drives.
Wembanyama had to trust his teammates to hold the fort without him, and not for the first time.
“It was just like a knee-to-knee, and I’ve had this dozens of times,” Wembanyama said. “But never against a guy like that.”
As a hush fell over the Frost Bank Center, Wembanyama limped the length of the floor one-legged, heading directly to the Spurs’ locker room. He remained there for the remainder of the quarter.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) collides with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Wembanyama limped off the court right after a defensive foul was called on him.
It marked the fourth time in Wembanyama’s past seven appearances he came up limping, though he only missed court time in two of those games.
Still …
“It’s a nasty feeling just knowing that your big guy is going down again,” forward Julian Champagnie said.
Instead of feeling sorry for themselves each time Wembanyama hobbles off an NBA court, his fellow Spurs only feel sorry for him.
“I feel bad for him because they are attacking the (expletive) out him,” Champagnie said. “Honestly, truly, they go at him pretty hard. Obviously he’s built for this, but there’s a big target on his back.”
Give Wembanyama credit for his determination.
He understands his place in the crosshairs of every team’s defensive game plan, which almost always involves roughing him up like a mob informant in a back alley.
“But we have a target on the other team’s best players as well,” Wembanyama said. “Never in a dirty way, but that’s just what we all have to go through.”
Wembanyama should expect no quarter Saturday when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Frost Bank Center.
In a rugged 104-103 Wolves victory six days ago in Minneapolis, Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29 points, three steals and about a half dozen new and colorful bruises.
Minnesota found the most success in that game using a 6-9, 250-pound battering ram named Julius Randle to battle the 22-year-old Frenchman.
Despite the nightly muggings, Wembanyama said he is feeling “better than expected” at the midway point of the season.
“I’m sore from everywhere, just like everybody in the league,” Wembanyama said. “Tired just like everybody, but I would think my joints would hurt more.”
If nothing else, the Spurs have learned how to survive when Wembanyama is unavailable for entire games or stretches of them.
They went 9-3 earlier this season when Wembanyama was out with a left calf strain.
They held on to beat the New York Knicks when Wembanyama had to exit that New Year’s Eve showdown with a bone bruise in his left knee.
They split the next two games against Indiana and Portland with their All-Star center sidelined.
And Thursday against the Bucks, the Spurs treaded enough water while Wembanyama was in the locker room to take a 31-27 lead into the second quarter.
“I knew that he would come back to the game and play the game he played,” guard Stephon Castle said. “We weren’t too worried about it. At that moment, we were just focused on the five guys who are on the court.”
Wembanyama returned to the floor to start the second quarter. As his newly bald head appeared through the tunnel leading to the court, the home crowd erupted as if it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Wembanyama finished Thursday with 22 points, five 3-pointers, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes of floor time. He did not play a second of the fourth quarter with the game already long out of reach.
He was not surprised to emerge from Thursday’s entanglement with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks a tad worse for wear.
“Against a guy like Giannis, I think you have to be ready to give up your body for this matchup,” Wembanyama said. “No matter what, you’re not going to get out of there 100%.”
That brings Wembanyama back to the barber chair on Wednesday afternoon, when he discovered one of his most reckless teammates had a soft hand.
In shaving Wembanyama’s dome, Johnson had to work slow. The reason was not surprising to anyone who had been watching the beating Wembanyama has been taking of late.
“I was trying to be cautious because he got hit (in a previous game),” Johnson said. “He had a knot on his head. So, I was trying to make sure everything went smooth.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News