Victor Wembanyama, a prominent figure in the NBA and a standout player for the San Antonio Spurs, has seen his season come to an unfortunate end. The Spurs made an announcement on Thursday revealing that Wembanyama has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder.
Standing at 7 feet 3 inches tall, the French center was enjoying a phenomenal season, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists. Notably, since the league began officially recording blocks, only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has previously recorded similar or better statistics in a season.
Questions have arisen regarding Wembanyama’s medical condition. DVT is described by the Mayo Clinic as a condition that occurs when a blood clot develops in one or more of the deep veins, often in the legs. The Spurs reported that Wembanyama’s case involves a clot in his right shoulder. Medical professionals are now focused on diagnosing how and why this occurred, and they will devise a treatment plan accordingly. One of the main dangers associated with DVT is the potential for clots to dislodge, travel through the bloodstream, and reach the lungs. Fortunately, based on the team’s announcement, this complication does not seem to have occurred with Wembanyama.
As for his treatment, doctors not directly involved in Wembanyama’s care indicated that it is likely he will be prescribed blood-thinning medications to address the clot. Historically, there has been concern regarding athletes participating in contact sports while on blood thinners, due to the risk of bleeding. However, a recent article published by the American College of Cardiology suggests that competing in sports might be feasible for athletes receiving anticoagulant treatment.
The implications of Wembanyama’s condition for the Spurs are significant. Currently, the Spurs are not positioned to make the playoffs and were already facing challenges to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. Losing Wembanyama, their standout player, only complicates matters further. Although the team has veteran players like Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, and recent addition De’Aaron Fox, the roster has been primarily centered around Wembanyama’s skills and contributions. Additionally, the Spurs have been without their head coach, Gregg Popovich, who has been sidelined since suffering a stroke in November.
For the NBA, Wembanyama’s absence is a notable loss. The league has had international players as its MVPs for the past six years, a trend expected to continue this season, likely favoring stars like Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Serbia’s Nikola Jokic. However, Wembanyama’s sidelining deprives the NBA of one of its most exciting prospects during a critical time of the season. His influence is widely felt, especially in France and San Antonio, where his successes have captivated fans. A playoff run could have further elevated his profile in the league.
As for NBA accolades, Wembanyama is now ineligible for most end-of-season awards under the league’s 65-game rule, which stipulates that players must participate in at least 65 games to qualify. This applies to the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year awards, both of which Wembanyama was in contention for but has now only played 46 games this season. Although he claimed the Rookie of the Year title last season—an award not affected by the game’s minimum rule—this year, he will not be keyed into the voting discussions for other honors when they take place in April.
