The San Antonio Spurs have confirmed Victor Wembanyama has a blood clot in his right shoulder, likely ruling him out for the rest of the season.
The Spurs centre was a top contender for Defensive Player of the Year before his deep vein thrombosis diagnosis.
โThe condition was discovered when Wembanya returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game in San Francisco,โ the Spurs' statement read.
โWembanya is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season.โ
The seven-foot-three star is irreplaceable for the team, Spurs guard Chris Paul told reporters.
โI can't stand on a guy's shoulders and block every shot that comes to the rim,โ Paul said.
โAside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room, I think, is what we'll miss the most.โ
Adding to the Spurs' misfortune, coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke earlier in the season and has yet to return to the bench.
Despite being 3.5 games out of a playoff spot, Wembanya's development will likely see the team's playoff odds fall away.
