For Spurs fans, the 2024-25 NBA season has suddenly turned from hopeful to heart-stopping with the news that Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder. It’s a diagnosis that sent ripples of concern not just in San Antonio, but across the entire league.
The meteoric rise of the 7’4″ young prodigy was temporarily grounded by a condition more commonly associated with long airplane flights than a basketball court. Yet here we are—this once-in-a-generation talent sidelined not by a high-flying dunk or a misstep on the court, but by something as unassuming as a blood clot. While the team remains optimistic about his return next season, the implications of this medical revelation could echo much further than anyone would like to think.
Interim coach Mitch Johnson was quick to reassure fans, stating there’s “no concern for Victor’s health personally (long term) or his basketball activities.” However, Spurs fans, as well as NBA enthusiasts, can’t help but worry—after all, history is littered with tales of promising careers curtailed by health issues beyond anyone’s control.
Wembanyama’s DVT diagnosis came on the heels of his participation in the NBA All-Star Weekend, and reports suggest he had been dealing with unexplained fatigue in the weeks prior. Unlike the more typical DVT cases affecting the legs, his shoulder-focused instance is a rarity, especially in such a young, top-tier athlete. It sparks the perennial question hovering over every NBA big man: Can his body withstand the demand?
By now, everyone’s drawing comparisons to Chris Bosh’s career-altering condition. The Hall of Fame player saw his basketball life cut short due to recurring blood clots and was ultimately forced into early retirement. Thankfully, Wembanyama’s situation doesn’t parallel Bosh’s in severity—Bosh faced recurrent clots with associated risk of pulmonary embolisms, while Wembanyama’s is an isolated incident, for now. Yet caution is warranted. The roadmaps of these players are not identical, but they unveil an unfamiliar path fraught with uncertainty.
Before this, Wembanyama was on a historic trajectory, averaging a stat line that would have made any future Hall of Famer envious: 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals in just 46 games. Alongside his offensive prowess, he was making waves defensively, leading the league in blocked shots—an arena where very few seven-footers dared tread.
The Spurs took critical steps to bolster their lineup by adding De’Aaron Fox, envisioning a playoff push and a deep postseason run. In a flash, however, these aspirations came crashing down, compelling a strategic pivot towards player development rather than immediate success.
This isn’t just a wrench in the gears for the Spurs but a hiccup in Wembanyama’s burgeoning career. The worries of durability now cast a shadow over a player at a soaring height both physically and metaphorically. NBA giants have, for generations, faced the grueling test of maintaining health. Wembanyama, with his formidable height and lanky build, is no stranger to the weight of these expectations. Already earmarked as a candidate for “load management,” the injury adds kindling to a fire of debate around his ability to endure full seasons.
Outside the court, in an entirely different arena, this news reverberates in the collectible market. Victor Wembanyama’s rookie cards—previously the crown jewels of fresh-faced investments—are certainly affected. The trading card market thrives on a hot streak, and nothing cools enthusiasm faster than an injury report. Astute collectors know the dance, and a 20-30% drop in his card value could be on the horizon. Yet seasoned investors know this game well: buy low when the hype fades and hold for future returns if faith in his recovery holds steadfast.
Historically, players like Zion Williamson have seen peaks and troughs in their card values due to similar injury concerns. His Prizm Silver PSA 10 cards, once basking in the spotlight, saw values skyrocket and then plummet with his absence from the court. If murmurs of recurrent issues linger post-recovery, Wembanyama might see his cards tumble even further akin to the Bosh scenario post-chronic conditions.
Despite the palpable uncertainty, every NBA dynasty contains tales of comeback. The Spurs, proud owners of five championships, aren’t unfamiliar with rebuilding and rebounding. Internal belief in a full Wembanyama recovery fuels optimism among fans. Yet, history remains a cautionary tale that the specter of player health can shroud a career in unwelcome darkness.
Victor Wembanyama’s story remains unfinished, with chapters of remarkable achievements peppered with moments of trial. This injury, while sobering, isn’t necessarily a swan song for his NBA dreams. His return in 2025-26 offers a blank slate, possibly free from the haunting specter of DVT—or so the league and fans hope. How he emerges from this temporary setback could define his destiny in the annals of basketball greatness.
