Victor Wembanyama's second season has ended unexpectedly and with serious injury implications. The All-Star center for the San Antonio Spurs has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder, a rare and critical condition that will keep him out for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

This diagnosis placing Wemby out for the season, revealed after Wembanyama missed a team shootaround, raises urgent concerns about his long-term health and the Spurs' season outlook.

 

 

 

Wemby Out For Season: Injury News

Although the team is hopeful for his full recovery by next season, the nature of this Wemby injury – DVT, characterized by blood clots that can hinder circulation – introduces uncertainty regarding his future.

This setback is particularly damaging for the Spurs, who are currently 23-29 and just 3.5 games behind the final play-in spot, making a late-season surge seem possible. Without their key player, the team's focus will likely shift to player development and future strategies.

Now that Wemby being out for the season is official, the main goal of his is to recover. While players like Brandon Ingram have successfully returned from similar issues, each situation is unique. As one of the NBA's standout talents, his health will be closely monitored, not only for this season but for the implications it holds for the future.

 

 

 

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis In The Shoulder?

Is thrombosis really significant enough to keep Wemby out for the season? Absolutely. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, blocking blood flow. It mostly happens in the legs but can also occur in the upper body, particularly the shoulder, which is called upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT).

UEDVT makes up about 5% to 10% of all DVT cases, and its occurrence is increasing due to more use of intravenous catheters and pacemakers. Deep vein thrombosis in the shoulder happens when a clot forms in the deep veins of the upper arm, shoulder or neck, often due to repetitive movements that compress these veins.

Symptoms can include swelling in the arm or hand, pain in the shoulder or neck and warm skin. Quick diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid serious issues like pulmonary embolism, where a clot moves to the lungs and can be life-threatening.

Treatment usually involves anticoagulant drugs to stop more clots from forming and lower the risk of existing clots moving. Sometimes, thrombolytic therapy is used to break down clots. It’s unclear how the medical professionals plan to attack this specific Wemby injury, but we’ll be hoping he can recover in time for the next campaign.

 

 

 

Spurs Depth Chart: Victor Wembanyama Replacements

SPURS DEPTH CHART

PG

Chris Paul

De'Aaron Fox

Stephon Castle

Blake Wesley

Jordan McLaughlin

SG

De'Aaron Fox

Stephon Castle

Devin Vassell

Julian Champagnie

Malaki Branham

SF

Devin Vassell

Julian Champagnie

Keldon Johnson

Harrison Barnes

Malaki Branham

PF

Harrison Barnes

Keldon Johnson

Jeremy Sochan

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Julian Champagnie

C

Victor Wembanyama (O)

Jeremy Sochan

Charles Bassey (O)

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Bismack Biyombo

The Spurs depend a lot on Victor for center depth, and with Wemby out for the season, they face a big gap in the frontcourt. Jeremy Sochan, who is currently a backup, will likely have to step up, even though he is smaller for the position. 

Charles Bassey is also out due to injury, which weakens their inside game even more. Sandro Mamukelashvili might get more playing time, but he plays more like a stretch big rather than a classic rim protector. Keldon Johnson could be another option, but he fits better as a small-ball forward than a true center.

The team struggles with size and defense without Wembanyama, making it harder to manage rotations, especially against teams with strong big men. If Bassey stays injured, the Spurs might need to look for outside help or use a group approach at center due to this Wemby injury.

 

 

 

Victor Wembanyama Stats This Season

Considering the numbers below regarding Wembanyama stats this season, it’s fairly obvious the Spurs will be missing a big chunk of their production:

  • Victor Wembanyama Stats (2024-25): 24.3 PPG, 11 RPG, 3.7 APG, 3.8 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 47.6% FG%, 35.2% 3P%, 83.6% FT%

He was well on his way to a phenomenal second season in the league, but now, with Wemby out for the season, we’ll have to wait until next season to see him on the court. Basketball fans in general are hopeful that this Wemby injury doesn’t knock him off his trajectory.