Wembanyama was an All-Star for the first time this season and is widely considered the brightest young star in the game.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is not expected to play again this season after a blood clot condition was found in his right shoulder.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is not expected to play again this season after a blood clot condition was found in his right shoulder.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is not expected to play again this season after a blood clot condition was found in his right shoulder.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is not expected to play again this season after a blood clot condition was found in his right shoulder.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is not expected to play again this season after a blood clot condition was found in his right shoulder, a massive blow to the league and the second major health-related hit for the Spurs this season.
Wembanyama’s condition – deep vein thrombosis – was diagnosed this week after he returned from the All-Star Game, the Spurs said Thursday. It is almost always treated with blood-thinning medication, which typically precludes a player from participating in a contact sport such as basketball.
Athletes who are involved with contact sports are typically advised to avoid using such medication because of the heightened chance of bleeding.
Wembanyama’s situation comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take a leave from the sideline.
The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama was the league’s rookie of the year last season and the frontrunner to be defensive player of the year this season. He has already taken 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots this season – no player in NBA history has ever finished a season with those numbers, and Wembanyama did it this year by the All-Star break.
He is averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists; the only other player to finish a season averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. The Spurs open their post-All-Star schedule later Thursday in Austin, Texas, against the Phoenix Suns. Wembanyama had been listed as doubtful for that game because of illness.