• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 7, 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

Bucks

Bucks Reportedly Discussed Giannis Deal With Knicks This Summer

Antetokounmpo’s future will be a major NBA storyline this year.

Amazon Adds Golf to Its Packed Black Friday Sports Lineup With NFL,..

On Nov. 28, The Skins Game will return for the first time since 2008.
Scott Foster

NBA Refs Testing Earpieces in Preseason Games

The technology won’t be used in the regular season yet.
Napheesa Collier

WNBA Tensions Heat Up With Canceled Collier–Engelbert Meeting

The commissioner denied Collier’s version of events at a press conference Friday.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift Explains Why She Isn’t Playing Super Bowl Halftime

She said she’s “too locked in” on Travis Kelce’s season to perform.
UFL Football
October 7, 2025

UFL Moving Three Teams to Soccer Stadiums in Columbus, Orlando, and Louisville

The UFL is moving its teams to smaller stadiums.
October 7, 2025

NHL Skates Into Season With Record Revenue, Rising Cap, and Labor Peace

The new season begins after a productive and historic summer.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Soccer
October 6, 2025

UEFA ‘Reluctantly’ Approves LaLiga, Serie A Matches Abroad

The matches need final approval from FIFA.
Jul 19, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk (4) passes the ball in the second half of a preseason preparation soccer match against the Borussia Dortmund at Notre Dame.
October 6, 2025

Liverpool’s $598M Gamble Looks Pretty Average on the Pitch—So Far

Liverpool struggles after historic offseason spending and lofty expectations.
October 6, 2025

NFL London Fans Get Partial Refunds After Ticket App Glitches

Fans experienced delays entering the Vikings-Browns game.
October 5, 2025

Bad Bunny, U.S. Officials Trade Barbs Over Super Bowl Halftime Show

DHS Secretary Noem attacks the choice, while Bad Bunny responds on SNL.