In the midst of his promising start to his NBA career, Victor Wembanyama is facing a significant setback. On Thursday, it was reported that he has thrombosis in his right shoulder. As a result, he will need to miss six months while on blood-thinning medication, effectively ending his 2024-25 season.
Wembanyama, 21, is among a few NBA players who have experienced blood clots. Last year, Detroit rookie Ausur Thompson encountered a similar issue, which cut his season short, though he has since remained complication-free. Six years ago, Brandon Ingram faced a blood clot in the same spot on his right shoulder. He underwent the same six-month blood-thinning treatment that Wembanyama will experience, and he has had no complications since.
Chris Bosh had a more severe outcome with a blood clot in his leg, a situation that poses a greater health risk, as the clot could travel to the lungs. Bosh’s career was ultimately cut short, and his case is often referenced whenever a similar incident occurs in the NBA, serving as a grim reminder of the potential dangers.
The Spurs have come out and said they believe the injury is closer to the former in terms of long-term effects of Wembanyama’s career. Hopefully that’s the case.
It’s a very humanizing moment—one that causes the entire basketball world to pause and take a breath.
“I think everybody understands that basketball is what we do and not who we are,” Spurs guard Chris Paul said. “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. And 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.
Setting Up The Future Takes A Screeching Holt
There’s no great time to suffer a complication like this, but this is a particularly bad time.
The league is in the process of identifying its next star, particularly as legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant approach retirement in the next few years. Wembanyama seemed poised to step into that role, becoming a global face for the sport.
However, with his season now abruptly interrupted, the San Antonio Spurs will need to navigate how best to utilize their new franchise player without the benefit of on-court experience for six months. This lost time not only stunts Wembanyama’s development but also complicates the Spurs’ plans, especially with their recent addition of De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline. When the next season starts, they’ll have to adapt to a new dynamic, which may hinder their progress and limit their potential in 2026.
There’s obviously some mild silver linings. The Spurs will likely get a better draft pick this year than they anticipated, allowing for an even stronger reload to their roster. Plus, Stephon Castle has developed steadily over the course of the year and this could give him the volume he needs to keep refining himself. But those things are all towards the backs of mind of Spurs fans.
Magnifying Bigger Problems, Minimizing Greatness
Wembanyama was the overwhelming frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award, with betting odds reflecting his dominance even before Christmas. Unfortunately, due to the NBA’s new minimum requirement of 65 games to qualify for postseason awards—a threshold Wembanyama will not meet—his remarkable defensive performance this season will go unrecognized.
That’s not his fault. And it’s not a reflection of who he is; it minimizes his impact.
While the NBA aims to curb load management and focus its awards on players who can consistently compete, the reality is that Wembanyama’s exceptional defensive skills will be overlooked, fading into mere memory. The league has come to rely on him as a key figure in its branding, and as the demand for him grows, the frustration will rise if he cannot receive the accolades he rightfully deserves. This may hinder the league’s efforts to fully capitalize on his immense talents.