07/14/25 02:58:00
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07/14 14:57 CDT Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return
following blood clot
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return following blood clot
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expects to play this coming season and
has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder
for the last few months, he told the French newspaper L'Equipe in remarks
published Monday.
There was no immediate comment from the Spurs on the report. It has been
expected that the team anticipated Wembanyama would be able to start this
coming season, though there was no official word until now.
"I'm officially cleared to return. ... I'll finally be able to play a bit of
basketball again," Wembanyama told the French sports daily.
Wembanyama was the league's rookie of the year two years ago, and Spurs guard
Stephon Castle won that same trophy this past season. Wembanyama was the
front-runner to be defensive player of the year last season when he was
diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February.
He was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists when he
was shut down; the only other player in NBA history to finish a season
averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76.
Wembanyama has traveled extensively in recent months and spent time last month
at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes
visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional
Chinese medicine and more.
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