Group Chuck’s Victor Wembanyama dunks in opposition to Group Shaq’s Damian Lillard through the championship sport of the 74th NBA All-Star Recreation in San Francisco, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (San Francisco Chronicle by way of AP)
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama isn’t anticipated to play once more this season after a blood clot situation was present in his proper shoulder, a large blow to the league and the second main health-related hit for his staff this season.
Wembanyama’s situation — deep vein thrombosis — was identified this week after he returned from the All-Star Recreation, the Spurs stated Thursday. It’s virtually all the time handled with blood-thinning treatment, which usually precludes a participant from collaborating in a contact sport corresponding to basketball.
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Athletes who’re concerned with contact sports activities are sometimes suggested to keep away from utilizing such treatment due to the heightened probability of bleeding.
Wembanyama’s scenario comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was compelled to take a go away from the sideline.
The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama was the league’s rookie of the 12 months final season and the frontrunner to be defensive participant of the 12 months this season. He has already taken 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 pictures this season — no participant in NBA historical past has ever completed a season with these numbers, and Wembanyama did it this 12 months by the All-Star break.
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He’s averaging 24.3 factors, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and three.7 assists; the one different participant to complete 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, in opposition to the Phoenix Suns. Wembanyama had been listed as uncertain for that sport due to sickness.
“I’m in shock,” Miami ahead Kevin Love stated when instructed of the information shortly after the Spurs introduced Wembanyama’s situation. “Absolute shock.”
Such instances have affected NBA gamers earlier than, together with now-retired Corridor of Famer Chris Bosh — whose profession was lower quick after he was identified with blood clots.
Some athletes have come again, typically higher than ever, after coping with blood clots.
Serena Williams was identified with the issue generally known as a pulmonary embolism — a clot on the lung — in 2011, and was the dominant ladies’s tennis participant on this planet once more when she returned.
“Scariest factor I ever skilled,” Williams stated months after returning.
Wembanyama was an All-Star for the primary time this season and is broadly thought of the brightest younger star within the sport.
“I’ve seen one quote that he says that no one higher name him previous 9 o’clock at night time as a result of he’s both studying or he’s asleep. I believe that’s tremendous cool. I believe that’s tremendous dope,” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James stated this previous weekend.
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“That allows you to know the place his thoughts body is at, the place he’s at intellectually, and I believe he’s been nice, clearly, for the franchise with the Spurs. However he’s going to be nice for our league for therefore a few years to come back.”
