Dec 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs heart Victor Wembanyama (1) sits on the ground after getting fouled within the third quarter in opposition to the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photos There’s no denying that it was a brutal week for San Antonio Spurs followers.
A bizarre exhibiting in NBA All-Star Weekend—the place Spurs gamers Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama had been disqualified from the Abilities Problem—was nearly forgotten due to the unhealthy information that adopted.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Wembanyama, the second-year sensation from France, has been dominated out for the yr as a consequence of blood clots in his shoulder.
It’s clearly very scary when blood clots come into play for athletes. Everybody within the NBA world remembers when Chris Bosh was identified with this and needed to step away from the game, and there have been a couple of different examples since.
After a strong rookie yr, Wembanyama was in line to win his first of many Defensive Participant of the Yr awards, however he’ll now be ineligible. His absence may even harm the Spurs on either side of the ball.
Including insult to harm, legendary coach Gregg Popovich will stay sidelined for the remainder of the season whereas he recovers from a stroke suffered in November. His return to the NBA is unknown.
Inside two days, Spurs Nation was handed a whirlwind of unhealthy information. It places the Spurs in a bizarre spot. Earlier than the NBA commerce deadline, they made an enormous splash by buying and selling for De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, a commerce that was really working seamlessly earlier than all of this unhealthy information.
That commerce won’t imply a lot for the rest of this season. The Spurs are the No. 12 seed, and it’s arduous to see them rallying a lot greater than that in a loaded Western Convention with out their greatest participant.
Mitch Johnson has performed a pleasant job treading water for the Spurs because the interim head coach. But when Popovich’s future stays unsure, San Antonio could possibly be pressured to look towards the long run.
Subsequent season can be a pivotal Yr 3 for Wembanyama’s growth and restoration from this blood clot scare. The Spurs already made a giant splash by buying Fox through commerce, and whereas that was not fairly an “all-in” transfer, there can be expectations for them to not less than be a playoff staff subsequent season.
At 24-30, their greatest guess might be to stay up for subsequent season. Hell, possibly attempt to shut down Fox for a couple of video games and jockey for NBA Draft lottery positioning. Keep in mind, the Spurs personal the Atlanta Hawks’ choose as properly from the Dejounte Murray commerce, so there’s an avenue for them so as to add much more younger expertise this offseason.
It’s not all unhealthy information for San Antonio. They’ve a pleasant younger core—they simply want to ensure they capitalize on it. Popovich and Wembanyama have reportedly been in shut communication after the large man’s analysis, which is able to convey a slight smile to the faces of NBA followers all over the place.
