Victor Wembanyama’s health scare put a pause on the Spurs’ development

A Spurs fan’s perspective of Wemby’s health and the Spurs’ future.

Since February 20, everything has changed for the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. News of his deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the subsequent end of his season has sent shockwaves through the NBA world, but most importantly, it has deeply affected Spurs fans and Victor’s global supporters.

Dr. Evan Jeffries, a physical therapist and well-known NBA & NFL injury analyst, reassured Newsweek:

“The main thing is that they caught it early, and it did not dislodge and spread to critical organs such as the brain, heart, or lungs. He will be on blood thinners for at least three months and will need negative scans before returning to basketball.”

It’s a serious condition, and while there’s always a fear of a career-ending outcome—like what happened to Chris Bosh—we can remain hopeful. If things go well, Wembanyama could follow a recovery path similar to Brandon Ingram and return healthy for the 2025-26 season.

The Spurs aren’t the same without Victor

Since Wemby’s departure, the Spurs have struggled, going 2-6 in their last eight games. The team has lacked its spark.

There’s a French saying: “Un seul être vous manque et tout est dépeuplé.”

Roughly translated, it means: ”Just one person is missing, and your world feels empty.”

The true meaning though is about despair “Just one person is missing (from your world), and your world becomes a vast wasteland ”.

Shutterstock

That perfectly describes the current state of the Spurs. Victor had quickly become the heart and soul of the team, not just on the court but also as the franchise’s identity. His presence unified the fanbase and reignited hope. Now, with his season cut short, the excitement has been deflated—and we find ourselves back in lottery discussions yet again.

Fox-Wemby Connection: A Lost Opportunity

One of the most frustrating aspects of this setback is the missed opportunity for Victor and De’Aaron Fox to build chemistry. The blockbuster trade for Fox was a game-changer, giving Wemby the elite point guard he needed to take his game to the next level.

Reflecting on Wembanyama’s career, he’s only had one true lead PG once: Tremont Waters (ex Celtics) during the first half of his season with the Metropolitans. The early returns were impressive.

Waters on playing with Wemby, at the 3:30 minute mark:

Just as things were coming together for the Spurs’ next evolution, Wemby’s absence has paused that progress. Now, we wait.

What’s Next for the Spurs?

1. Lottery Odds & Draft Strategy

Every remaining game matters—not for wins, but for positioning in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. The ideal scenario?

• The Spurs and Hawks finish below the Bulls. This would increase the chances of Chicago’s pick landing outside the Top 10 and conveying to the Spurs.
• If the Spurs finish in the Bottom 8 and the Hawks land at #9, San Antonio would have a 6% chance and Atlanta (our pick) a 4.5% chance at the **#1 overall pick, that’s a combined 10.5% chance for a Top-4 selection. (Rough estimate not taking into account tie-breakers, but showing the combining value of Spurs and Hawks picks).

https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds

The Top 5 prospects in this draft are elite, but after that, it becomes very PG-heavy from picks 5 to12. The Spurs need a high pick.

2. Next Season: The Victor-Fox Duo Must Thrive

Victor’s recovery timeline will be key. If all goes well, he’ll return in time for training camp, where his conditioning and chemistry with Fox will be priorities. The earlier they build that connection, the better the Spurs’ chances of starting strong.

3. Championship Window: 2026-27 or 27-28

The big-picture goal remains a title-contending team by the 2026-27 season. Next year, the Spurs must finish in the Top 4-6 in the Western Conference to stay on track for that goal. Their likely starting five?

PG: De’Aaron Fox

SG: Stephon Castle

SF/PF: Jeremy Sochan

PF/C: Victor Wembanyama

SF/PF/C: TBD

The upcoming draft and offseason moves will determine if the Spurs can fast-track their rebuild into contention.

Should Wemby Represent the Spurs at the Lottery?

The NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 12 in Chicago. Should the Spurs send Victor? After all, Peter J. Holt brought us Wemby when he attended in 2023. Could Victor bring us another stroke of lottery luck?

[Watch Holt’s lottery magic]

One thing is certain: With Wemby, the Spurs’ future is still incredibly bright. Let’s just hope this setback is only temporary.