Victor Wembanyama to miss rest of regular season with shoulder injury, Spurs say
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the rest of the 2024-2025 regular season due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Thursday. The All-Star center has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in the right shoulder, per the team.
Wembanyama's condition, which refers to a blood clot in a vein located deep in the body, was discovered when he return to San Antonio after participating in the All-Star Game in San Francisco this past weekend. The French national played on Team Chuck, a team made up of the league's international stars.
The team did not provide a specific timeline, saying only that he was "expected to miss" the rest of the regular season. Deep vein thrombosis typically occurs in the legs, but can affect other parts of the body.
pic.twitter.com/rTlFYch2Rr
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2025
Last weekend marked Wembanyama's first All-Star appearance since arriving in the league last season. The 21-year-old sensation had a dominant first season, picking up Rookie of the Year and leading the league in blocks.
This season, Wembanyama had been averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game, while also contributing 3.8 blocks and 1.1 steals per game on the defensive end.
The Spurs currently sit toward the bottom of the Western Conference with a 23-29 record. As of now, their playoff chances are slim — and even slimmer without Wembanyama on the court.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Shohei Ohtani moves closer to his Dodgers mound debut, throwing 3 simulated innings in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is moving ever closer to his first pitching appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In fact, there's now a chance his fans might not even have to wait until the All-Star break. Ohtani looked sharp while throwing three simulated innings on Tuesday at Petco Park before the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres, manager Dave Roberts said. The outing was another significant step in Ohtani's recovery from the elbow surgery that has prevented the two-way superstar from pitching since he signed with the Dodgers before last season. Ohtani threw just under 50 pitches to two minor league hitters during the third simulated game in his gradual comeback to the mound . The three-time MVP used his fastball and sweeper impressively, according to Roberts and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. 'I thought he was really good,' Roberts said. 'I thought the fastball had life. I thought the sweeper was really good. ... (The hitters) said the stuff was coming out really well. It was about 44 pitches or something like that, so it was really good.' The Dodgers have been cagey about the timeline for Ohtani's return to the mound, with Roberts suggesting in recent weeks that it might not happen until after the All-Star break. But after Ohtani's latest mound outing, Roberts now says the chance of Ohtani pitching in a game before the All-Star break begins July 14 is 'north of zero.' 'It doesn't have to be a full buildup, because anything that he can give us is certainly going to be additive,' Roberts added. 'But I still stand by him and Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache, the training staff. They're going to drive this. So I'm just anxious for the next one.' Ohtani hasn't pitched in a major league game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he abruptly left in the second inning of his final start for the Los Angeles Angels. He was eventually diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament that required surgery. Ohtani has demonstrated elite pitching ability when healthy: He went 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP while starting 86 games over five seasons for the Angels. He didn't pitch at all in 2019 and made just two starts in 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ohtani has remained steadfastly committed to playing both ways despite his hitting prowess, and the Dodgers could really use him on the mound this season. Los Angeles has 14 pitchers on the injured list, including expected starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and Gavin Stone. Still, the Dodgers say they won't rush their cornerstone. 'It's tempting,' Roberts said with a smile. 'I'm sure Shohei is tempted to just rip the Band-Aid off and get into a big-league game, but I think we're doing a good job of trying to take care of him. And truth be told, I don't know if anyone knows the right time to get him into a big-league game, but we're still being very careful.' Ohtani has been only a designated hitter since he agreed to a 10-year, $700 million free-agent deal with the Dodgers. He immediately won his third MVP award in 2024, batting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases for the eventual World Series champions. Ohtani was in his usual spot as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter for Tuesday night's game against the Padres. Los Angeles planned to throw yet another bullpen game due to the rotation's extensive injury woes. Snell also threw his first full bullpen session in two months on Tuesday at Petco Park. The two-time Cy Young winner, who will throw another 20 pitches on Friday, has said his arm is now pain free after he was shut down with left shoulder inflammation on April 6. Snell made only two starts this season before going on the injured list. He agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers last winter. ___ AP MLB:
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama staying at Shaolin temple in China for a few days
Victor Wembanyama is in China, and it's not all about vacation. The San Antonio Spurs star is in the midst of what's expected to be a 10-day stay at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more. The NBA China office confirmed that Wembanyama is at the temple, and some Chinese media also confirmed his presence there with the temple itself. 'Concentrate on training!' read part of a social media post on the NBA's Weibo account, which also revealed the plans for a 10-day stay. Then again, the secret was getting out through other social media means anyway. Spurs Fam，Wemby is out for his morning run! @spurs #WembyDaily #update Some photos of Wembanyama with a shaved head - it wasn't shaved when he arrived in China - and wearing a robe similar to the other monks began widely circulating this week. One of the photos showed the 7-foot-4 center sitting on a Chinese style chair in front of multiple Buddha sculptures. Perhaps the 'tallest monk' in history, both ancient and modern. During a private visit to China, San Antonio Spurs basketball player Victor Wembanyama had his head shaved at the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, donned monastic robes, and shared a vegetarian meal, preparing for… There evidently was some sightseeing going on earlier in the trip as well. .@wemby exploring China! 'Victor Wembanyama, live from China, on the Great Wall itself, having an amazing time. It's crazy,' he said on a video posted to Instagram by the Spurs' account and others. Wembanyama is expected back in the U.S. in the coming weeks and likely will be with the Spurs' delegation that goes to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next month. The Spurs, like many teams, often have many players on their NBA roster with the summer league team for various events. The 21-year-old Frenchman led the NBA in blocked shots during the regular season, despite his season ending in February - just after his first All-Star Game appearance - because of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The Spurs are hopeful that he will be able to play when next season begins, and the French national team also has expressed hope that Wembanyama will be able to play for his country at this summer's European championships. Wembanyama was the league's rookie of the year last season and was widely expected to be a front-runner in this season's defensive player of the year race. He attempted 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots this season - no player in NBA history has ever finished a season with those numbers - and he was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists when the DVT was detected. The only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging all those numbers was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
After painful season, 49ers' Trent Williams sees playing into 2026 and beyond
Trent Williams spoke with reporters Tuesday for the first time since he endured an excruciating season filled with physical pain and personal tragedy. The San Francisco 49ers ' All-Pro left tackle missed the final seven games with a severe ankle injury before he and wife, Sondra, mourned the loss of their son, Trenton, who was stillborn at 35 weeks in late November. The adversity raised the possibility that Williams, who will turn 37 in July and has dealt with a long string of ankle issues, would strike a different note when a familiar question was posed: How much longer does he plan to play? But no worries, 49ers fans. Nothing has changed. The slam-dunk Hall of Famer can still see well beyond this season — when he can become the only offensive tackle in NFL history to earn 12 Pro Bowl berths — and can envision adding to his legacy by playing in 2028 when he's 40. Only five offensive linemen have played into their 40s since 1925: Jason Peters, Jackie Slater, Bruce Matthews, Jeff Van Note and Ray Brown. 'I would love to play until I'm 40,' Williams said. 'I would love to make it into that special group. But if it's not in my cards, it's not in my cards … I'm going to do everything possible to play as long (as I can) and put a good product out there. When it's not going my way, then I'll know. I could play until I'm 41. Who knows? That is a goal of mine. I'm definitely not going to retire with something left in the tank.' Williams acknowledged last year was agonizing. He said that in midseason he still felt the sting of the 49ers' Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs from eight months earlier. That defeat was followed by his family's first tragedy, when Sondra lost Trenton's twin earlier in her pregnancy. Williams was asked Tuesday how he summoned the necessary enthusiasm for a 15th NFL season. He indicated the process wasn't easy, terming it a 'good question,' before he referenced the adversity he overcame earlier in his career. In 2019, Williams was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. He underwent surgeries that removed the cancer, along with 30% of his scalp. It was repaired with skin grafts from his thigh and the reconstruction involved staples and several hundred stitches. Williams missed the 2019 season, but he's said football wasn't even on his mind at the time. He was convinced his career was over and his sole focus was fighting for survival. 'It's very difficult, but the road I've traveled has always been difficult,' Williams said of last year's trials. 'Your faith has to get you through because there's a lot of things that happen that humanly you don't have the answer for it. You can't make sense of it. Second, it's just having the composure to know that life will throw you curveballs. And no matter how hard things get for me or how hard things get for anybody else, you can find a situation where it's worse. 'So every day, (I) thank God for being able to have air in my lungs. I know that that's not promised. And just keep moving forward knowing that what's in the rearview is in the rearview.' Williams understands that this season could be his last in the NFL, despite his desire to keep playing. And that was made clear when he discussed his contract status. Williams doesn't have any guaranteed money remaining on his deal after he signed a three-year, $82.6 million extension last year. Asked about the lack of guaranteed money in the final year of his deal next season, Williams indicated he'd address that in 2026, unless his performance finally plummets this year. 'I'm taking everything one year at a time,' Williams said. 'I feel like if my play warrants more guaranteed or a new year or two on the deal, I'm here for it. If not, it will be time to sail off into the sunset. I understand what's going on. I'm at that point where I'm just going day by day.'
