Victor Wembanyama injury update: San Antonio Spurs star out for season with blood clots

San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. A deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein.

Wembanyama is in his second season in the NBA. He’s averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc.

Wembanyama made his first All-Star Game appearance this season. The 7-foot-3 standout put on a show for fans, throwing down dunks and knocking down 3s. Nonetheless, upon his return to San Antonio, Wembanyama was diagnosed with a blood clot.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Shams Charania explained how the Spurs discovered Wembanyama’s health issue.

“They’ve been running tests over the last 24-48 hours, ever since Wembanyama returned from San Francisco when clearly there were signs of a potential issue in that shoulder,” Charania said.

“They were running tests over the last couple of days, and they found, really yesterday and into today, this diagnosis that has led to the form of a blood clot. And now they will figure out the best treatment plans.”

Wembanyama was a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year this season with his league-high 3.8 blocks per game. For reference, the next closest player in blocks per game is Walker Kessler, who only averages 2.4.

The Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and he hasn’t disappointed. In his rookie year, he was named an NBA All-Defensive First Team member and the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Now, the Spurs must find a way to finish the season strong without their 21-year-old star.

“He’s someone that loves the game,” Charania said of Wembanyama. “He’s smart, he’s creative, he’s obviously articulate, as well. That was not something that he was thinking when he was walking off the court in anguish after an All-Star Game loss.

“But now the Spurs will have to regroup with him and his team, with their doctors, and figure out exactly what the plan is here because this is someone that’s not only a face of their franchise, but potentially one of the faces of the NBA.”

The San Antonio Spurs will take the court for the first time since the All-Star break tonight as they square off against the Phoenix Suns at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on TNT.