Imagine yourself in the shoes of Victor Wembanyama. The man had just made his first NBA All-Star appearance and was one of the favorite contenders for the Defensive Player of the Year! When all seemed good, his sudden blood clot condition hit hard, crushing all the hopes. Unlucky lad will be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. There’s tension over his condition, which only adds to the concern for the Spurs. And who better than Shaquille O’Neal and the Inside Guys discussing the matter?

But how serious is it? Speaking of the shocking diagnosis, both Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley were quick to share their heartfelt wishes for the player’s recovery.

Chuck couldn’t help but address the tough position the Spurs are in right now. Speaking on the NBA on TNT “I feel bad for the Spurs organization also because, you know, Ernie, you’re right. When they went out and made that De’Aaron Fox trade, you’re like, man, this team, they’re not going to win the championship, but they could get into the play-in because De’Aaron Fox is a perennial All-Star. But I just wish him nothing but the best. But this is a bad look. This is just a bad thing for the Spurs, for the NBA,” Barkley explained.

O’Neal further added, “And I’m glad the Spurs organization said, hey, we love you enough to say, forget, you know, making a push for the playing. And we care about you. We know you are our future. We’re shutting this thing down the rest of the year.” 

But what makes him so important? The French player’s defensive game played an instrumental role in leading the team. The Spurs (24-29) are currently 12th in the Western Conference and hoped for a Play-In tournament spot. As Barkley said, acquiring star point guard De’Aaron Fox undoubtedly raised hopes, yet the road to success appears challenging. However, the concerned might find some peace in knowing the Spurs interim head coach’s latest statement.

Mitch Johnson’s statement revives hope for Spurs fans  

Well, when the Spurs Number 1 was out, the fear was evident among fans. And there’s a reason behind it. A few years ago, Chris Bosh, who suffered from a similar blood clot condition, had to retire early from his career. However, before you panic, Wembanyama’s case might be different. The Spurs’ official report confirmed that he is expected to return at the start of the next season. It also clarified that the condition will have no long-term health issues for Wembanyama.

Apart from the Spurs’ official assurances, details of which remain private, head coach Johnson also shared a few words. “The medical experts and the people that are smarter than everybody in the room have confirmed he’ll be done this year, and that there is no concern for Victor’s long-term health personally or anything related to his basketball activities. There is no reason to not believe that he won’t be ready to go through the start of next season,” Johnson said. The Los Angeles Lakers legend O’Neal previously also praised the NBA medical team. 

In the past, Brandon Ingram and Ausar Thompson experienced similar conditions in 2019 and 2024, respectively. After their recovery, both returned to action in their respective teams. While the current situation is concerning for the Spurs, the team’s optimistic statements have eased the tension. So with hopes and prayers, we all, alongside Shaquille O’Neal, wish to see the 21-year-old back in action.