• Loading stock data...
Thursday, June 26, 2025

NBA Dealt Major Blow With Wemby’s Season-Ending Blood Clot

Victor Wembanyama is out for the remainder of the season due to a blood clot discovered in his right shoulder.

Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to deep vein thrombosis, a form of a blood clot, in his right shoulder, the Spurs announced Thursday.

The team said the blood clot was discovered when the 21-year-old returned to San Antonio after participating in his first NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. The team told ESPN and The Athletic that they expect Wembanyama will be ready for the 2025–2026 season.

Christopher Yi, a board-certified vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center spoke to Front Office Sports and said the Spurs’ confidence in the return of Wembanyama likely means treatment and recovery will be similar to that of Brandon Ingram in March 2019, who was also 21 years old at the time.

Ingram was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm in March 2019 when he was also 21 years old. He would miss the final 19 games of the season but returned the following year when he was named an All-Star. He has battled other unrelated injuries throughout his career, but signed a three-year, $120 million extension with the Raptors earlier this month.

On top of the typical blood-thinning medication, Dr. Yi said there is a procedure that may be done on Wembanyama that could keep him out. World No. 1 women’s golfer Nelly Korda also had a blood clot in 2022 that kept her out for several months. She reclaimed the top ranking in the sport a year later.

“Brandon Ingram is doing extremely well. Nelly Korda is back to being No. 1 in the world. … That’s what I expect to happen to Victor. He’ll come back to form,” Dr. Yi said.

Dr. Yi told FOS that Wembanyama’s situation is different from that of Chris Bosh, who was found to have blood clots in his legs and lungs in 2015. He briefly returned to action the next season, but in September 2016, Bosh, then 32 years old, and the Heat announced he would no longer play. 

“That’s a completely different scenario. A different beast. … There are different causes and different ways to treat it,” Dr. Yi said about Bosh’s injury.

The NBA’s Future Face

Wembanyama’s injury comes at an inopportune time for the league, which is facing a 5% year-over-year viewership decline and in search of new names to take the mantle from aging stars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.

Wembanyama was fourth among Western Conference front-court players in All-Star fan voting with 2.88 million, not too far from James and Durant, and 500,000 more than Stephen Curry. Wembanyama is also fifth in jersey sales this season.

Speaking at a press conference in France last month before the NBA Paris Games, NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised Wembanyama, saying he has “exceeded my expectations.” 

But Silver also said he’s been “cautious” about his perception of top picks and their progression in the NBA in part because some have not met the expectations through “no fault of their own” due to factors such as injuries.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bold Trades Shake Up NBA Draft After Predictable Start

A flurry of trades and falling draft positions lead the post-Flagg activity.
opinion

From Woj Bombs to Shams Calm: ESPN Insider Avoids Draft Spoilers

Charania’s presence was fairly muted both on ESPN and social media.

Cooper Flagg Goes No. 1 to Dallas, Capping Mavs’ Rapid Rebuild

The expected selection extends a wild turn of events for Dallas. 
Oct 20, 2023; Doral, Florida, USA; James Piot plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral.

From LIV to PGA Tour: James Piot Shows Path Back From Rival..

A former LIV Golf player is competing at this week’s Detroit event.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Soccer

Club World Cup Headed for Major Test in Knockout Round

The knockout round will test FIFA’s hypothesis for the new tournament.
Jun 23, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Al Ahly's Mohamed Hany reacts after the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
June 24, 2025

Heat Wave Across the U.S. Impacting Major Sports

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said it’s been almost impossible to train.
Jun 22, 2025; Cromwell, Connecticut, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the first tee during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament.
June 24, 2025

PGA Tour’s $20M Signature Events Finish 2025 Season Up in TV Ratings

The Travelers Championship was the last of eight elevated events this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Sabrina Ionescu with the New York Liberty shots over defenders from the Toyota Antelopes during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena May 12, 2025 in Eugene.
June 24, 2025

How Preseason Games Have Become a Key Revenue Stream for WNBA Teams

The WNBA’s preseason featured four games played on college campuses.
June 23, 2025

NBA Offseason: Draft Drama, Free Agency, and a Critical Owners Meeting

The 2025 NBA draft will be on June 25 and 26.
June 23, 2025

NBA Conference Gap Wider Than Ever Amid Injuries to East’s Best

A team from the West has won the NBA title 17 times since 2000.
June 22, 2025

Thunder Win NBA Finals Behind Young, Deep, and Cheap Roster

The Thunder’s young and cheap roster won its first title Sunday.