Victor Wembanyama Cleared to Play for San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with a blood clot in late February, following the All-Star Game. This caused him to miss the remaining 36 games of the 2024-25 NBA season. His injury largely contributed to the Spurs missing the playoffs. The Spurs have missed six consecutive playoffs in a row, and coach Mitchell Johnson said, “I was hoping Wembanyama was gonna play a key piece in our way to the finals.”

Victor Wembanyama is a 7’4 center for the San Antonio Spurs. He recently came from France for the 2023 NBA draft. He was widely considered one of the most promising prospects in recent NBA history, known for his unique combination of size and skill. In the 2023 NBA draft, he was selected first pick. Wembanyama ended his rookie season averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game, making him the first rookie to lead the league in blocks. These stats aided him in winning Rookie of the Year.

A few days after the NBA All-Star Game, Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. This put him out for the rest of the season. Wembanyama has recently been cleared to play, and this could mean a lot for the team. When Wembanyama joined in 2023, it was monumental for the team. In the 2022-23 season, the Spurs went 22-60. In the 2024-25 season, the Spurs went 34-48. With Wembanyama back, this record is almost guaranteed to go up.

The DVT was likely caused by factors related to his anatomy or overhead motions, leading to blood flow issues. The Spurs are optimistic about his full recovery for the 2025-26 season, but his absence meant the team had to rely on their franchise player for the remainder of the year, which significantly hindered their season. 

With the Spurs franchise being widely recognized as terrible in recent years, they are relying on Wembanyama to be their ticket back to greatness. Wembanyama’s injury was devastating to the franchise, and now with he back, this could mean the Spurs are going to the playoffs for the 2025-26 season.

According to Yahoo, the chances of the San Antonio Spurs making the 2026 playoffs are strong, with odds suggesting a higher likelihood of making the postseason, though the strong Western Conference proves to be a great challenge. Analysts and oddsmakers point to the continued development of Victor Wembanyama and a talented young core as key factors for a potential leap into playoff contention, likely via the play-in tournament.

Sources: Yahoo, ESPN, Forbes