Celebrity Victor Wembanyama is predicted to overlook the rest of the season with deep vein thrombosis in his proper shoulder, the San Antonio Spurs introduced Thursday.
The blood clot was found when Wembanyama returned from the All-Star Recreation, the staff mentioned in an announcement.
The situation is normally handled with blood-thinning remedy, which usually halts a gamers from collaborating in a contact sport like basketball.
Wembanyama, final 12 months’s unanimous Rookie of the 12 months winner, was averaging 24.3 factors, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-leading 3.8 blocks in 46 video games for the rebuilding Spurs. His 46 video games comes in need of the 65-game minimal required to be eligible for end-of-season awards. The 7-3 unicorn was thought-about the favourite to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He completed second behind fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert for the award final season.
His numbers would have made him worthy for consideration on one of many All-NBA groups this season.
The phenom has already taken 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 photographs this season — no participant in NBA historical past has ever completed a season with these numbers. Wembanyama did it this 12 months by the All-Star break.
It’s not the primary time an NBA star has been sidelined with a blood clot difficulty. Retired Corridor of Famer Chris Bosh’s profession was reduce brief after being recognized with blood clots. Wembanyama’s situation, nevertheless, is just not as critical as Bosh’s difficulty, per Finger.
Wembanyama’s rise helped the Spurs (23-69) eclipse final season’s win complete (22) by the All-Star break. The additions of veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes additionally aided with the rebuilding course of. And in a transfer to pair Wembanyama with a star guard for the long run, the Spurs acquired ex-Kings star De’Aaron Fox earlier than the commerce deadline.
“The team will provide updates as appropriate,” the Spurs wrote within the assertion.
Initially Printed: February 20, 2025 at 1:44 PM EST
