Victor Wembanyama’s Season-Ending Setback: Spurs Star Sidelined with Deep Vein Thrombosis
In a surprising and unfortunate turn of events, the San Antonio Spurs have announced that their star player, Victor Wembanyama, will miss the remainder of the season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. This announcement came on Thursday, leaving fans and the basketball community in shock.
The condition, which is a form of a blood clot, was discovered after Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game. Typically, this condition is treated with blood-thinning medication, which unfortunately means that participating in a contact sport like basketball is off the table for now.
Despite this setback, there is a silver lining. A team source has shared with ESPN that the Spurs are optimistic about Wembanyama’s recovery, expecting him to be back in full form by the start of the 2025-26 season. This optimism is a beacon of hope for Spurs fans who have been thrilled by Wembanyama’s performance this season.
Wembanyama, who was the reigning Rookie of the Year and a first-time All-Star this season, has been a powerhouse on the court. He was averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks in 46 games for the 23-29 Spurs. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team and fans alike.
Spurs point guard Chris Paul expressed the team’s sentiments, saying, “It’s tough. Tough more than anything, I think for all of us, knowing how much he means to our team, but more so knowing how much he means to the game and how much he loves to play.”
Unfortunately, Wembanyama’s absence means he will not be eligible for All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year, and other major awards due to not meeting the 65-game minimum. Before the announcement, Wembanyama had been a -2000 favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year at ESPN BET, attracting over three times as many bets to win the award. Following the news, Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies moved from +2500 to the favorite at -130.
The Spurs have assured that updates on Wembanyama’s condition will be provided as appropriate, keeping fans in the loop about his recovery journey.
Chris Paul further commented, “I think everybody understands that basketball is what we do and not who we are. So life and everything is so much more important, but for us, we know losing a big part of our team like that is [made up for] by committee. And trust me, you can’t replace Vic. I can’t stand on a guy’s shoulders and block every shot that comes to the rim.”
Paul also highlighted Wembanyama’s impact beyond the court, saying, “Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room I think is what we’ll miss the most.”
This is the second major blow for the Spurs this season, following the stroke suffered by coach Gregg Popovich about 3½ months ago, which forced him to take an indefinite leave from coaching.
Wembanyama’s performance this season has been nothing short of historic. He had already taken 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots, a feat no player in NBA history has achieved before the All-Star break.
As the Spurs and their fans rally around Wembanyama during his recovery, the basketball world will be watching closely, hoping for his swift return to the court.
Information from ESPN’s David Purdum and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
