The San Antonio Spurs introduced on February 20, 2025, that the workforce’s French forward-center #01 Victor Wembanyama has been recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper shoulder and he’ll miss the rest of the 2024-2025 NBA season. Photograph is Wembanyama throughout a press convention after a coaching sesssion in Paris on January 22, 2025.
HOUSTON, United States — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is predicted to overlook the remainder of the NBA season after being recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper shoulder, the workforce mentioned Thursday.
The Spurs mentioned in a press release that the 21-year-old French participant was recognized with the blood clot after he returned to San Antonio following final Sunday’s All-Star sport in San Francisco.
“Wembanyama is predicted to overlook the rest of the 2024-25 common season,” the Spurs mentioned. “The workforce will present updates as applicable.”
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The announcement brings a untimely finish to a different excellent marketing campaign by Wembanyama, who earned Rookie of the Yr honors final season after being taken first total within the NBA draft.
“It’s powerful,” San Antonio’s veteran level guard Chris Paul mentioned of shedding Wembanyama, who was averaging 24.3 factors, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-best 3.8 blocks in 46 video games for the Spurs this season.
“Powerful greater than something, I feel for all of us, understanding how a lot he means to our workforce, however extra so understanding how a lot he means to the sport and the way a lot he likes to play.”
Different NBA gamers have handled related well being considerations. Chris Bosh, a two-time NBA champion with the Miami warmth, was in the end pressured to retire on the age of 32 after repeatedly coping with blood clots.
However the Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson has returned to play 33 video games this season afer he was recognized with a blood clot in March of final 12 months. Brandon Ingram, now with the Toronto Raptors, recovered after being recognized with a blood clot in his proper arm in 2019.
However it’s an enormous blow for a participant who made a direct influence on arriving within the league and whose affect is just rising in his second season.
The 7-foot-3 (2.21m) Wembanyama grew to become an All-Star for the primary time when he was chosen as a reserve.
Younger Minnesota star Anthony Edwards famous Wembanyama’s rise throughout All-Star weekend when he was requested if he thought-about himself a candidate for “subsequent face of the league”.
“Not likely,” Edwards mentioned, “That’s what they’ve received Wemby for.”
The Spurs have reportedly indicated they count on Wembanyama to make a full restoration.
Whereas the workforce’s announcement didn’t rule out the likelihood that Wembanyama might be match for the playoffs, the possibilities of San Antonio reaching the post-season with out him look slim.
The Spurs are in twelfth place within the Western Convention, two spots away from the ultimate play-in berth now held by the Golden State Warriors.
Even with the arrival of high-scoring guard De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento on the commerce deadline, the Spurs will doubtless undergo with out their centerpiece.
‘Can’t change Vic’
“I feel all people understands that basketball is what we do and never who we’re,” Paul informed reporters at San Antonio’s observe session forward of Thursday’s sport in opposition to Phoenix.
“So life and all the pieces is a lot extra essential. However for us, we all know shedding an enormous a part of our workforce like that’s (compensated for) by committee.”
“Belief me, you’ll be able to’t change Vic,” Paul mentioned. “I can’t stand on a man’s shoulders and block each shot that involves the rim.
“Other than his basketball potential, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room I feel is what we’ll miss probably the most.”
Wembanyama was taking part in within the French league a 12 months and a half in the past earlier than his choice because the primary decide within the 2023 NBA draft set him on the trail to world stardom.
He helped France seize the silver medal finally 12 months’s Paris Olympics, the place they fell to the USA within the ultimate.
His sophomore season included a visit residence to France, the place the Spurs cut up two video games in Paris with the Indiana Pacers.
Heading in the right direction for potential defensive participant of the 12 months honors, Wembanyama will not play sufficient video games to be eligible for any of the main finish of season awards.
Dropping Wembanyama is one other blow for the Spurs, after legendary longtime coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke in November that pressured him to take indefinite depart from the workforce.
Paul insisted that the Spurs remained targeted on making the post-season.
“That’s the plan,” he mentioned. “That’s completely the plan. I do know Vic, I do know Pop, they wouldn’t have it another method.”
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