Damn. As reported by ESPN, San Antonio Spurs’ rising star, Victor Wembanyama, has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024-2025 season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
According to insider Shams Charania, the team’s medical staff believes that the blood clot is contained. However, due to its seriousness, the Spurs have decided to shut down Wembanyama for the remainder of the season to prioritize his health and safety.
Get this: A statement from the Spurs confirmed the diagnosis: “The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Victor Wembanyama has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The condition was discovered when Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game in San Francisco. Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The team will provide updates as possible.”
The news has deeply affected Wembanyama’s teammates, including veteran point guard Chris Paul, who expressed the challenge of losing such an essential player for the remainder of the season.
“It’s tough,” Paul said. “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.”
While Paul acknowledged the emotional impact of the injury, he emphasized that life’s bigger picture remains a priority. “I think everybody understands that basketball is what we do and not who we are,” Paul added. “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.”
Moreover, Paul also highlighted the irreplaceable qualities Wembanyama brings to the team. “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. Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma, and what he brings into the locker room I think is what we’ll miss the most.”
Wembanyama, one of the NBA’s most anticipated young talents, had an exceptional season in his second year with the Spurs. At the time of his injury, he posted impressive stats, averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and leading the league with 3.8 blocks per game in 46 appearances.
As a result of missing the required 65-game threshold, Wembanyama will no longer be eligible for end-of-season awards, including the Defensive Player of the Year Award, for which he was a frontrunner.
After a stellar rookie year, during which he secured the Rookie of the Year award, Wembanyama made his first All-Star appearance this season. Unfortunately, with this new injury, his potential for further individual accolades will have to wait until next season.