Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

Victor Wembanyama shares his take on the NBA's three-point era, hinting it could be a key factor in the league's declining TV ratingsVictor Wembanyama (Photo by Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
He was a strong contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award and had recently made his first All-Star appearance.

Without their star player and facing a shortage of center options, the San Antonio Spurs will now have to battle for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. However, the primary concern is Wembanyama’s long-term health, as this condition is serious and could lead to complications lasting months or even years.

5 Players Who Faced Injury Like Victor Wembanyama

Brandon Ingram

Brandon Ingram and Victor Wembanyama share a similar medical history. Ingram was also diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in March 2019, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2018-19 season. He was 22 years old at the time.

Despite the setback, Ingram‘s career continued to flourish. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans a few months later and delivered an outstanding performance in the 2019-20 season, achieving career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. His impressive play earned him his first All-Star selection and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2020.

Chris Bosh

Miami Heat Chris BoshChris Bosh (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Two-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star Chris Bosh faced significant career challenges due to blood clots. He ultimately retired in 2019, more than three years after his last game at age 31.

While with the Miami Heat, Bosh missed the latter half of the 2015 season due to a blood clot that traveled to his lungs, and he encountered another clot in his leg the next year. The recurring health issue led doctors and the Heat to advise him to sit out. After failing a physical, he missed the 2016-2017 season, and the NBA deemed his condition a career-ending illness.

The Heat waived Bosh in 2017 but honored their promise by retiring his No. 1 jersey in 2019. The emotional ceremony took place a month after he officially retired despite multiple comeback attempts.

Ausar Thompson

Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson, 22, faced a blood clot diagnosis in March 2024, causing him to miss eight months.

He returned to action in November after receiving medical clearance. Since his comeback, Thompson has secured a starting role as the Pistons’ small forward, averaging 9.3 points, five rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game across 33 appearances, including 22 starts.

Anderson Varejão

Anderson Varejão (Image Credit: X/@BleacherReport)
Brazilian forward Anderson Varejão faced a serious health scare in January 2013 when he was hospitalized with a blood clot in his left lung while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers at age 30.

The clot was found after he reported back and chest pain, leading to a CT scan and immediate surgery. Varejão later expressed gratitude for the timely discovery, which prevented serious complications. He missed the rest of the 2012-2013 season but returned the next year, continuing his career in the NBA and Europe before retiring in 2021.

Mirza Teletović

Bosnian forward Mirza Teletović’s NBA career was cut short by blood clots. After joining the Brooklyn Nets in 2012, he was hospitalized in January 2015 with shortness of breath. Later, he was diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his lungs.

He took blood thinners and returned the next season with the Phoenix Suns. However, in 2017, while with the Milwaukee Bucks, the condition reappeared. Teletović was waived by the Bucks and retired in 2018 at age 33.