Victor Wembanyama, the standout player for the San Antonio Spurs, has announced that he is officially cleared to return to play after recovering from a blood clot in his right shoulder. The 21-year-old forward, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had to cut his 2024-25 season short due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.
Following surgery in March 2024 to address the issue, Wembanyama missed significant playing time, including the opportunity to compete for the Defensive Player of the Year award, for which he was the leading candidate. Speaking to French media outlet L’Equipe, he expressed relief at being given the go-ahead to return to the court.
Wembanyama Shares Recovery Journey
“I’m officially cleared to play again,” Wembanyama stated. “It’s very fresh; I got the go-ahead from the Spurs medical staff just a few hours ago on Friday. Phew, I’m finally going to be able to play a bit of basketball again!”
The young athlete described his recovery as an “adventure,” acknowledging the emotional toll of being away from the game. “My injury was challenging, but the worst is over. I’m much better today, both physically and mentally. I’m right on schedule in terms of what had been planned for my recovery timeline, and well ahead of schedule when you look at the history of NBA players who have had this type of problem,” he added.
Wembanyama emphasized that the thrombosis is now behind him, stating, “It shouldn’t happen again.” However, he admitted that he is still adjusting to being off the court for so long. “I haven’t played 5-on-5 for five months now. If I were to have a game tomorrow, it would be risky,” he noted, underscoring the need for continued rehabilitation.
The Road Ahead for Wembanyama
Despite his clearance to play, Wembanyama recognizes that there is still work to be done before he can return to full competitive form. “Now, I have to continue with specific work on my shoulder, and above all, get back to my basketball habits,” he explained. He acknowledged that rediscovering the necessary reflexes and muscle memory will take time. “The first thought that comes to mind is: ‘I’ve been betrayed by my body, it’s let me down.’ But this is not at all the right vision to have,” he reflected.
Last season, Wembanyama showcased his defensive prowess, finishing with a league-high 176 blocks, which was 28 clear of the next best total. As he prepares for the upcoming season, he is likely to be a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award once again, given his impressive track record.
With his return, the Spurs and their fans are eager to see how Wembanyama will reintegrate into the team and continue to develop into one of basketball’s most promising talents.
