Victor Wembanyama of Spurs reaches out for support after distressing personal news.

Third-year San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has asked the public for assistance after revealing that his close friend, Elijah Joseph Hoard, has gone missing. Hoard was last seen at O’Hare International Airport on February 27.

Wembanyama took to Instagram to share the troubling news with his followers. In his post, he wrote: “Our friend Elijah has been missing from Chicago O’Hare since February 27th. If you have any information please reach out to local authorities.” In an effort to amplify the message and reach a wider audience, the Spurs standout tagged several prominent Chicago sports figures, including Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Connor Bedard.

Wembanyama’s Friend Reported Missing

According to reports, 23-year-old Elijah had been in Chicago visiting his father for a 10-day stay. After being dropped off at the airport for his return trip, he never checked in for his flight and did not board the plane as scheduled.

A Missing Person report filed with the Chicago Police Department states that Elijah was last seen wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and cream-colored shoes. TMZ Sports first highlighted the details of the report.

Elijah’s father, Antwon Hoard, confirmed to ABC7 Chicago that his son never made it onto his February 27 flight to France. He explained that Elijah was expected to register his ticket and proceed to boarding, but that process never occurred. His luggage was not checked in, and there is no record of him boarding the aircraft.

“To my knowledge he was going to just register his ticket and get on the flight but for whatever reason he never took the flight his bags weren’t registered, and he never checked in,” Antwon said. “So what we’re thinking is he could possibly be floating around the airport or something, but again, that’s the last we’ve seen of him.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate, and Wembanyama’s social media appeal underscores the seriousness of the situation as friends and family search for answers.

Wembanyama’s Award Push Continues

While dealing with this distressing personal matter, Wembanyama remains in the midst of an outstanding season on the court. He has played in 46 of the Spurs’ first 60 games and can miss no more than three additional contests if he hopes to remain eligible for end-of-season honors under the NBA’s 65-game rule.

If he reaches that threshold, Wembanyama is widely viewed as the frontrunner for his first Defensive Player of the Year award. He narrowly missed out last season after a blood clot issue sidelined him late in the campaign, preventing him from meeting the eligibility requirements.

In addition to his defensive dominance, Wembanyama is also considered one of the top four candidates in the MVP race. The league’s Most Valuable Player receives the Michael Jordan Trophy, named in honor of basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Speaking recently to EuroHoops, Wembanyama acknowledged his presence in MVP discussions and expressed his ambition to make a strong late-season push for the award.

“I know I’m in the MVP conversations,” he said. “Of course, it’s one of my goals. I think that the main argument for that is the team’s success. That’s always the first thing. I’m also conscious that I need to press the gas a little bit on the last games of the season to win that award.”

The Spurs, currently sitting at 43-17, appear poised to end a six-year playoff drought this season. With Wembanyama anchoring both ends of the floor, San Antonio has reemerged as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.

Even as he chases individual accolades and team success, Wembanyama’s attention is clearly divided. His public plea highlights a deeply personal concern that transcends basketball, as he hopes increased visibility will help bring his missing friend home safely.