Victor Wembanyama’s 2024-25 season is expected to be cut short.
The San Antonio Spurs forward has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, a condition that will likely keep him off the court for the rest of the year, according to the team’s announcement on Thursday.
The Spurs are optimistic that this blood clot is an isolated incident and anticipate a full recovery for Wembanyama, as reported by ESPN.
Wembanyama has met the lofty expectations set upon him since being the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. This season, he has been impressive, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, while also leading the league with 3.8 blocks per game. His outstanding performance earned him his first All-Star selection and positioned him as a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Unfortunately, due to his injury, he will not meet the 65-game requirement to qualify for individual accolades, excluding him from the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Several prominent NBA players have faced similar health challenges with blood clots. Hall of Famer Chris Bosh had his career effectively ended by blood clots in 2016, while Brandon Ingram’s 2018-19 season was cut short due to a blood clot in his arm. Ingram made a successful return the following season, winning the Most Improved Player award after being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson also experienced a season-ending blood clot issue in 2023-24 but successfully returned to play this season.
In addition to Wembanyama’s situation, the Spurs have been without their long-time head coach, Gregg Popovich, for a significant portion of the season. Popovich took a leave of absence in November after suffering a mild stroke. The timeline for his return remains uncertain, with assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepping in as the interim leader.
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