Generational talent Victor Wembanyama’s future can be secured if Spurs staff take care of these 3 things

Victor Wembanyama was poised to be one of the better players this season. He might be just 21 years old, but his skill set would have had helped him beat out seasoned pros. That unreal skill set and his teammates were supposed to propel the San Antonio Spurs to a solid playoff spot.

That was until the All-Star weekend came about. The French phenom did play well in the weekend’s biggest games, but after that, something seemed amiss. His team’s medical staff noticed that their franchise cornerstone did not exhibit the same energy as he usually does.

Some tests and discussions later, he was shut down for the remainder of the season. It was revealed that a deep vein thrombosis had developed in his right shoulder. Which meant, he had to stop playing basketball immediately and start treatment.

As soon as the news broke, the first question on the minds of everybody was if this will affect his career. Many factors depend on it as some athletes have come back to play. Then there is Chris Bosh, who had to stop playing sooner than he wanted. To avoid that, the Spurs medical team have to take care of three important things.

Correct diagnosis

Some of the best doctor’s work with NBA teams. They are employed to ensure players stay healthy and injury free. In the event of an injury, those team doctors are the first to determine what the said player needs.

But medical conditions such as blood clots are beyond the scope of team doctors. In this situation, the team has to ensure that they select the best specialist. They have to fly him out to wherever the best specialists are, just like NFL running back Christian McCaffrey did when he went to see a specialist in Germany this past season.

The logic is that the diagnosis is more important than the cure. They first have to determine why a 21-year-old athlete had this condition. Blood clots are normal in older athletes, therefore it is important to determine the cause.

A wrong diagnosis can cut short Victor Wembanyama’s career much earlier than intended. There are plenty of doctors who are known to make mistakes and end up giving a wrong diagnosis. Some even go with a random bizarre theory just like a doctor recently did by suggesting the Frenchman’s problem was related to COVID 19 vaccines.

History has shown that 7 footers face health problems down the line. The last thing the San Antonio Spurs would want is to add the trouble of other problems along with it. Then only then can they figure out the best possible treatment.

Get as many experts involved in his treatment and rehabilitation

That specialist they see will also be the first to give him a treatment plan. However, that will be the specialist’s suggestion based on their experience and knowledge. But as an athlete, there are many more things Victor Wembanyama will have to take note of.

Involving a few more experts will benefit him and his team. Therefore, not only will his blood clot go away, but their combined expertise can help him recover properly. At the same time, his body cannot gain or lose other vitals.

An athlete’s body has to be in sync. Which is why Wembanyama stressed that he did not gain as much weight as was rumored. He knows he cannot gain more weight than what his body can take. That is what he will struggle with the most as he will likely be advised to rest for a long period of time.

His rehabilitation has to be perfect as he bears the risk of that clot forming again. Once that clot has completely withered away and blood tests confirm that his blood flow is as perfect as it should be, then only can they breathe a sigh of relief. The superstar is too important to the Spurs as well as the NBA.

Restrict Victor Wembanyama from basketball until late into the offseason

It usually takes six months to recover from a blood clot. That means, the San Antonio Spurs have to ensure that the Paris native does not get back onto a basketball court during that time. He might get the itch to practice some shots. But his shooting shoulder is the one that has the blood clot.

Only after the Rookie of the Year recovers completely should they allow him to get back into rhythm. The 2025-26 NBA season starts in October. Therefore, they have enough time to get him back up to speed. In the event there is a lapse in his recovery, the team should under no circumstances rush him back.

There are far too many examples of players rushing back to play, only to make the situation worse. The Spurs can afford to let Victor Wembanyama return to action a month or two into the season. His long-term future is more important than a shot at the NBA title next season.

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