NBA teams beware: Victor Wembanyama is back.
After getting shut down midway through his sophomore season with the Spurs due to blood clotting in his shoulder, the 7-foot-3 phenom has been officially cleared to resume playing basketball.
“I’m officially cleared to resume,” Wembanyama told French reporter Maxime Aubin of L’Équipe, according to a translation. “It’s fresh, I only got the approval from the Spurs medical staff a few hours ago (Friday).
“Phew, I’m finally going to be able to play a little basketball again! My injury was an adventure, obviously, but the hardest part is over. I’m much better today, physically and mentally.”
Wembanyama’s blood clot discovery was made Feb. 20, when the Spurs announced he was suffering from deep vein thrombosis and immediately shut him down for the season.
The 21-year-old was averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Spurs as they owned a 23-29 record at the time of his diagnosis. San Antonio wound up with a 34-48 record and missed the playoffs.
In the recent months of his recovery journey, Wembanyama took trips to Costa Rica, Japan and China — where he participated in a 10-day retreat at a Buddhist temple, made waves on social media and wound up becoming “officially part of the 34th generation of warrior monks of the temple.”
“It was very hard,” Wembanyama told Aubin of the retreat. “We discovered movements we had never done in our lives. It was more than 1,000 kicks a day, jumps, balance exercises, stretching.
“We were using muscles we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded. I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life,” Wembanyama continued. “It was even too much at one point. We had to slow down.”
While Wembanyama’s absence last season contributed to the Spurs missing the playoffs, he feels that now the team is actually ahead of schedule in legitimately competing this season.
“I think my injury accelerated things,” the French big man said. “Even though I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, the reflections and questioning caused by such an injury can’t be bought. I think it’s an experience we’ll benefit from in the future. For next season, I hope we qualify for the playoffs.”
When Wembanyama returns to the court, he’ll be joined by a strong Spurs core with major potential.
One-time All-Star De’Aaron Fox, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper will hold down much of the ball-handling duties, while San Antonio also added Carter Bryant in the draft who has shown tris tremendous defensive prowess in the Summer League and could pair well with the defensive phenom that Wembanyama already is.