NBA star Victor Wembanyama sidelined due to blood clots

By Geoffrey Latayan

Victor Wembanyama, one of the NBA’s future torchbearers, has been sidelined for the rest of the season due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

The San Antonio Spurs superstar stands tall – literally as well as figuratively – among the giants of the game and recently played in his first All-Star game.

Considered the ‘next big thing’ by many and someone who could potentially lead the Spurs back to the promised land, Wembanyama has heeded medical advice to take a break in the interests of his career.

Wembanyama a ‘generational talent’

Standing at 7’3’’, Wembanyama was dubbed a ‘generational talent’ even before he reached the NBA.

A lanky center who moves like a forward and shoots like a guard, he is also agile on the defensive end, as evidenced by his 10.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game.

On the offensive side of things, Wembanyama is your ultra-modern centre, slashing from the top of the key and shooting from the 3-point line with ease.

With him anchoring both the Spurs’ offense and defense this season, the Texan franchise racked up a 23-29 record in the lead-up to the All-Star game, which puts them close to contending for a play-in spot come the postseason.

READ MORE: Man City v Liverpool: Reds aiming to continue setting the pace in Premier League race

DVT halts star’s 2024-25 season

Just before the season resumed, physicians found a blood clot – or thrombus – in Wembanyama’s right shoulder.

Medically known as DVT, the condition of blood clotting in one or more deep veins in the body can cause significant pain and swelling.

Wembanyama’s case is quite rare in that the blood clot appeared in his shoulder, according to Dr Victoria Tchaikovski, an athlete doctor at the Clinique Drouot in Paris.

As a result of the diagnosis, Spurs have decided to shut down Wembanyama’s season with immediate effect in order to facilitate prompt treatment.

The clot also has the potential to migrate into the lungs and create a pulmonary embolism, which could lead to chronic shortness of breath.

“The blood must be thinned so the clot can be reabsorbed,” Tchaikovski told Agence France-Presse. “He could bleed if he takes a blow to the head and, if he takes a hit elsewhere, he could get an enormous bruise.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Laura Mueller on pole as F1’s first female race engineer

Cautionary tales and some good news

In good news, UCLA vascular surgeon Hugh Gelabert pointed out that Wembanyama’s condition is less threatening due to the location of the clotting in his shoulder.

Gelabert emphasised that DVT found in the legs carries more risk.

There is, of course, the cautionary tale of Chris Bosh, a former NBA champion who was forced to retire early as a result of blood clot issues.

He was originally benched for the remainder of the 2014-15 season when doctors discovered a blood clot in one of his lungs. 

A year later, the Miami Heat forward failed to pass a physical on account of a blood clot in his leg and was subsequently forced to retire after the league declared his issues life-threatening.

However, there are also success stories when it comes to DVT.

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram suffered from DVT in his right arm in 2019 and Gelabert conducted a successful procedure to remove the clotting.

Ingram returned full of energy ahead of the 2019-20 season and eventually won the 2020 Most Improved Player award.

READ NEXT: Tyla becomes first African solo artist to hit 1 billion Spotify streams with hit song ‘Water’

Players past and present wish him well

A number of current and former players have wished Wembanyama well as he heads off on a one-year hiatus to cure his DVT.

Acting Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said that the Frenchman wants to beat the condition and continue playing basketball.

Phoenix Suns forward and former NBA MVP Kevin Durant said that he is “optimistic the center will be back on the court sooner rather than later”.

Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal added that Wembanyama is fortunate the doctors found the blood clot at the early stage of his career. 

The basketball legend also praised the Spurs for quickly ruling out Wembanyama for the season to avoid the risk of it spreading further.

Former NBA MVP and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley advised the star to reach out to Bosh for some advice concerning his condition.

When questioned by the media, Spurs veteran point guard Chris Paul acknowledged the significance of losing Wembanyama on a team level but stressed the importance of his personal health above all.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Culturally significant crested crane faces local extinction in Uganda