The San Antonio Spurs watched their entire season change the moment Victor Wembanyama was ruled out with a dangerous health issue earlier this year. The 21-year-old center, who had been averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks across 46 games, was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in February. Doctors immediately shut him down, as blood clots can end careers and even endanger lives. “His arm didn’t feel completely normal,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson explained when the medical staff first detected the condition.

Without Wembanyama, the Spurs went just 1-4 in their first five games after the diagnosis. Even though the team had recently landed All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox, the absence of their 7-foot-5 star crushed any playoff momentum. Health became

See Full Page