Victor Wembanyama’s sophomore season was shaping up to be another step in his meteoric rise-until everything came to a sudden stop. In February 2025, the 21-year-old Spurs star was diagnosed with a blood clot in his shoulder, a rare and serious condition that immediately shut down his season after just 52 games. And just like that, basketball wasn’t the priority anymore-his health was.
In a recent interview, Wembanyama opened up about the moment he got the diagnosis. “It was five minutes of total breakdown,” he said.
“Obviously crying and sadness. Basketball wasn’t my priority all of a sudden.”
That raw honesty is telling-not just about the emotional toll of the diagnosis, but about how quickly everything can shift when a player’s health is on the line.
The clot was identified as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that can be life-threatening if the clot moves to the lungs. It’s not something you expect to hear about in someone so young, let alone a professional athlete in peak physical condition.
But DVT doesn’t discriminate, and the Spurs medical staff didn’t hesitate. They shut Wembanyama down immediately, putting his long-term well-being ahead of any short-term basketball goals.
Treatment meant blood thinners, strict monitoring, and, most importantly, no contact sports. For a player who lives and breathes the game, being sidelined like that is more than just physically frustrating-it’s mentally exhausting.
But Wembanyama channeled that energy into recovery. He called it his “motor” all summer, and it’s clear this experience has left a lasting mark on how he approaches the game-and life.
By July, after months of treatment and rest, Wembanyama was cleared to return to full basketball activities. But even with the green light, there’s a new layer of caution.
Medical studies show DVT can recur in 20 to 30 percent of cases over a five-year span, even in younger people. That’s a stat that lingers in the background-a reminder that while he’s back on the court, the journey isn’t over.
Now, as he suits up again for San Antonio, Wembanyama brings more than just his 7-foot-4 frame and freakish talent to the floor. He brings perspective.
His story is a powerful reminder that even for the game’s brightest young stars, the road to greatness sometimes includes detours that have nothing to do with basketball. And how you handle those moments?
That’s what really defines a career.