San Antonio Spurs’ rising star Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder.
The 2.21-meter French center, renowned for his shot-blocking prowess, is set to begin immediate treatment for deep vein thrombosis, the team announced. The Spurs expect Wembanyama to make a full recovery.
“You can’t replace Vic,” said veteran point guard Chris Paul. “Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room is what we’ll miss the most.”
Wembanyama’s condition was discovered after he returned from the All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. The condition is usually treated with blood-thinning medication, and further evaluation will be needed.
Interim coach Mitch Johnson expressed optimism about Wembanyama’s long-term health. “Victor felt his arm didn’t feel completely normal. That was articulated to our medical staff,” Johnson said. “The medical experts confirm that he’ll be done this year, and that there’s no concern for Victor’s long-term health or anything related to his basketball activities.”
This diagnosis comes just months after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke, with Johnson serving as interim coach since then. The Spurs have said Popovich’s condition is improving, but there’s no timetable for his return.
Before his diagnosis, Wembanyama was leading the league in shot-blocking and was a first-time All-Star. He’s averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game—numbers matched only by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1975-76 season.
Despite the setback, there is hope that Wembanyama might represent France in this summer’s European Championships if he chooses.
