Victor Wembanyama Cleared to Return by Spurs After Blood Clot Recovery

San Antonio Spurs superstar big man Victor Wembanyama has been fully cleared to resume basketball activities after deep vein thrombosis cut his 2024-25 season short.

"I'm officially cleared to return," he announced Monday (h/t Maxime Aubin of L'Équipe). "It just happened—I got the green light from the Spurs' medical staff just a few hours ago (last Friday). Phew, I'll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again!"

The Spurs announced on Feb. 20 that Wembanyama was expected to be lost for the remainder of the regular season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

The Spurs were optimistic about his long-term prognosis and ability to play in time for the 2025-26, however, as Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reported at the time of the diagnosis.

Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, an NBA-high 3.8 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in his second NBA season.

He's fulfilled his tremendous hype, and then some, after the Spurs selected the 7'3" Frenchman with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

His first season led to a Rookie of the Year honor and a runner-up position in the Defensive Player of the Year race. His sophomore season included Wembamyama's first All-Star Game.

The Spurs have great hopes with Wembanyama as the centerpiece, obviously, and they've surrounded him with talents that foreshadow a bright future, including point guard De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, second-year star Stephon Castle and newly-drafted rookie Dylan Harper.

The future is bright in San Antonio, but it starts and ends with Wemby.