Victor Wembanyama’s sophomore campaign has come to an abrupt end after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The San Antonio Spurs announced that their young star will miss the remainder of the season, effectively removing him from contention for any individual awards, including Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama, who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game, was widely considered the frontrunner for the award. However, new NBA rules require a minimum of 65 games played to qualify, making him ineligible after appearing in just 46 contests. His absence is a crushing blow for the Spurs (23-29), who were clinging to playoff hopes while dealing with the extended absence of head coach Gregg Popovich due to health issues.
Skip Bayless Questions Wembanyama’s Shutdown
The timing of Wembanyama’s injury has led to speculation, most notably from sports analyst Skip Bayless, who suggested that the Spurs may be prioritizing long-term development over immediate competitiveness, which seems right given his youth and expectations. Bayless pointed out that San Antonio was already struggling to make the Western Conference play-in and questioned whether the team had decided to rest its star to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. “This announced Wemby injury is just weird,” Bayless wrote on X.
“You have to wonder if the Spurs just decided to shut him down with 30 games left just to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on a still fragile 21-year-old body.” While such speculation may be unfounded, Wembanyama’s injury does have unintended benefits – the Spurs, currently with the league’s 10th-worst record, could improve their lottery odds for the upcoming NBA Draft and build a super team for next season with Wemby healthy and in his third year along with youngsters like De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassel and whoever their draft pick is.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the 1998 NBA Draft, when a season-ending injury to David Robinson positioned the Spurs to land Tim Duncan with the No. 1 pick. Some fans are already wondering if history could repeat itself, with Wembanyama’s injury potentially setting the stage for San Antonio to draft Cooper Flagg, the projected top pick in 2025. However, landing Flagg would require lottery luck, and given the number of struggling teams in the NBA (Pelicans, Wizards, Jazz), the path to securing the No. 1 pick is far from guaranteed.
Spurs’ Season Takes a Hit, but the Future Remains Bright
Wembanyama’s early exit has also had a ripple effect on the betting markets, especially in the Defensive Player of the Year race. Prior to his injury, he was the overwhelming favorite at -2500. With his season over, the odds have shifted dramatically, with the Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. now the new frontrunner at -120, followed by the Cavs’ Evan Mobley (+120) and the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels (+700).
Despite Wembanyama’s absence, the Spurs recently made a significant move to improve their roster, acquiring De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings before the trade deadline. While Fox and Wembanyama won’t get a chance to build chemistry this season, the long-term outlook remains promising. In addition, veteran point guard Chris Paul, who may be playing his final NBA season, has served as a valuable mentor to Wembanyama, helping him navigate the early years of his career. Wembanyama’s injury is a major setback for the Spurs, but with a young core and key pieces in place, San Antonio’s future remains bright. If history is any indicator, this could be just another chapter in the franchise’s longstanding ability to rebound from adversity.
