NBA: Victor Wembanyama to Miss Rest of Season Due to Blood Clot in Shoulder

San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder, the team announced on Thursday. 

The condition, caused by blood clots forming inside blood vessels, was discovered after Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game in San Francisco.

“The condition was discovered when Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game,” the Spurs said in a statement. “Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season. The team will provide updates as appropriate.”

ESPN reported that the Spurs believe the issue is isolated and not linked to any broader health concerns. Wembanyama, 21, was initially listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to illness, before further tests confirmed the diagnosis.

Wembanyama was enjoying an outstanding season, averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game in 46 starts. He also led the Spurs with 142 made three-pointers, showcasing his versatility as a dominant force on both ends of the court.

“It’s tough,” Spurs veteran guard Chris Paul told ESPN. “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.”

Paul emphasized that Wembanyama’s absence would be felt not just on the court but also in the locker room. “Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room I think is what we’ll miss the most,” he added.

Wembanyama, the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year last season, was competing in his first All-Star Game last weekend and was a frontrunner for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. 

Since being selected first overall by the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 7-foot-3 French star has averaged 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.7 blocks in 117 career games.

This marks the second major setback for the Spurs this season. Legendary head coach Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history, has been on an indefinite leave of absence since November after suffering a stroke.

With Wembanyama sidelined, the Spurs face an uphill battle for the remainder of the season, both on and off the court. The team will now shift its focus to supporting their young star through recovery while navigating the rest of the campaign without their defensive anchor and offensive spark.