San Antonio Spurs young sensation, Victor Wembanyama, has been dealt a hefty blow after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder, which will see him sitting out the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season. As the February chill set in, so too did the cold reality for Spurs fans who were just getting accustomed to cheering on the 7’4″ prodigy. The weight of this diagnosis feels like a slam dunk straight out of an airball, with implications that reverberate throughout his career prospects, potential legacy, and even his rookie card market—because yes, in 2024, cardboard is still king.
The official announcement from the Spurs aimed to lend peace of mind, with interim head coach Mitch Johnson reassuring fans and hopefuls alike that there is “no concern for Victor’s health personally (long term) or his basketball activities.” Optimists abound in San Antonio, awaiting his promised return with bated breath. The plan? Wembanyama will rejoin the fold come the 2025-26 season as healthy as a thoroughbred on race day. But let’s face it, in the treacherous world of professional sports, when has a plan ever gone off without a hitch?
His diagnosis came to light following the NBA All-Star Weekend, with whispers from The Athletic’s Sam Amick hinting at a dip in Wembanyama’s energy levels in the days leading up to the break. A towering figure as he is, encountering a condition more commonly linked with the lower body, and in middle-aged airline passengers to boot, certainly raises some eyebrows. But don’t be fooled; thrombosis, admittedly, isn’t a sugared donut to shake off. This rare occurrence in his shoulder has people wondering—can his towering physique shoulder the demands of an unforgiving NBA season?
Before the blood clot abruptly called time on Chris Bosh’s career, he too faced scrutiny and the potential career-ending diagnosis which led to his early exit at 32, despite valiant attempts to defy the odds. Bosh suffered from recurrent clots involving his lungs, categorically more severe than Wembanyama’s, and yet, the comparison is unavoidable. Even if the young player’s current condition seems less dire, the element of risk remains. Will this be Wembanyama’s cryptic canary in the coal mine?
Before the clot-kaboom, Victor was waltzing down a path of prodigious potential, with stats that seemed lifted from a video game cheat code—24.3 points per game, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, alongside sprinkles of assists and steals like confetti at a championship parade. His prowess on the court was raising eyebrows and rookie card prices alike. San Antonio, ever the opportunists, bolstered their attack with De’Aaron Fox—their eyes set on postseason stardom. Alas, with Wembanyama sidelined, their playoff dreams were dashed as quickly as they rose.
For Wembanyama, sitting out the season as his colleagues sprint ahead churns out a trifecta of challenges:
1. Durability Crevices: For players of his stature, durability whispers always linger. Just as enduring as the agility of their game is the specter of “load management,” the dreaded yet necessary buzzword which now circles his career like a hungry hawk.
2. Momentum Halts: His seen-as-inevitable ascent to MVP prominence, especially after spearheading France’s drive to silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finds itself in a bit of a pickle. Missing a season? That’s a hiccup and a half in the storyline every commentator yearns to narrate.
3. Spurs’ Stagnation: San Antonio’s hopes of rocket-fueled resurgence are momentarily doused. A season of cohesion-building and development now ushers in disappointing delays.
Beyond the hardwood, every savvy collector’s digital and physical shelves bear witness to the rising and falling fortunes in the rookie card market. Wembanyama’s absence signals a pause in the once-flaming interest. Card prices are often at the mercy of hype and availability, and his current availability demands a red-pencil markdown:
– High Stakes Hesitance: In turbulent times, the glittering carousel of high-end card trade slows, with collectors hedging their bets and tightening their fists around their cash.
– Sliding Prices: Expect the cost of admission to Victor’s rookie card fan club to dip 20-30% in coming months—each purchase a wager on uncertainty.
– Buy Low, Hope High: For those who dare, it’s a classic opportunity—buy low now, and hope that a 2025-26 renaissance reinvigorates value back to dizzying heights.
The trajectories of players past, like Zion Williamson and the aforementioned Bosh, bear echoes of market volatility—moments creating seismic shifts in collectible and memorabilia realms. Zion recovered, albeit with a saga of setbacks; can Wembanyama mimic the resilience and narrative arc?
Victor Wembanyama’s face-plant into adversity teeters precariously between hurdle and cliff—a daunting yet defining moment for both player and promising talent. His early-career dream ride has encountered its first jarring bump, and the world watches, waiting to see if this phenom becomes a perennial powerhouse or if the shadow of enduring ailments ultimately keeps him grounded before takeoff.
