Victor Wembanyama Cleared to Return, Reflects on Health Scare and Warrior Monk Training

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been fully cleared to return to basketball activities following a months-long recovery from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his shoulder, the 20-year-old French phenom revealed in an interview with L’Equipe published Monday.

A person familiar with the situation later confirmed to the Associated Press that the Spurs have received medical clearance for Wembanyama to resume full participation and, barring any setbacks, he is expected to be ready for training camp this fall. The team has not yet publicly disclosed these details.

“I was afraid of not being able to play basketball anymore,” Wembanyama told L’Equipe. “I think that we all have thoughts sometimes. Irrational thoughts about the things we care about most. But this type of thinking also changes you as a person, for the better.”

The condition that sidelined him — a blood clot in his right shoulder — forced the Spurs to shut him down in February when he was putting up historic numbers: 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game. Only NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had previously averaged those combined stats in a season.

Although specifics about his diagnosis were not released by the team, the fact that he’s been cleared suggests the DVT was likely provoked by an external factor — such as compression from a rib or muscle — and not a genetic condition, reducing the likelihood of recurrence. Such cases have been treated successfully in other athletes, including tennis icon Serena Williams and NHL forward Tomas Fleischmann.

“The hardest part is over,” Wembanyama said. “I’m much better today, physically and mentally.”

Wembanyama admitted there is still work to do before he’s fully game-ready. “It’s been five months since I’ve played a 5-on-5 match,” he said. “If I had to have a game tomorrow, it would be risky. There are plenty of reflexes to find, both conscious and linked to muscle memory.”

While recovering, Wembanyama took time to explore life beyond the court — including a transformative visit to a Shaolin temple in China. “We were initiated there to the life of a warrior monk,” he said, describing intense kung fu training, meditation, and physical challenges. “It was very hard… We used muscles that we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded. I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life.”

With a clean bill of health and a reinforced mindset, Wembanyama returns to a rising Spurs squad that features Stephon Castle — last season’s rookie of the year — and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, forming one of the most promising young trios in the NBA.