The causes of Victor Wembanyama's injury: DPOY, All-NBA, the 2026 Draft, and...LeBron James

The San Antonio Spurs season took a devastating turn when Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The absence of the French superstar derails the team's playoff ambitions and exposes their lack of depth in the frontcourt.

Wembanyama, who was already one of the top 15 players in his second season, led the NBA with 3.8 blocks per game and was the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. San Antonio was hoping to contend for a playoff spot after acquiring De'Aaron Fox, but without Wembanyama, their season is essentially over. The Spurs' playoff drought, which already lasted five years, is likely to extend now to six.

Wembanyama's loss exacerbates San Antonio's evident front line problems. The trade of Zach Collins for Fox left the team with Charles Bassey as the main backup center, but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament sprain, further depleting their roster. The Spurs signed a 10-day contract with Bismack Biyombo as reinforcement, but their rebounding numbers, currently 13th in the league, are expected to decline without their big star. Biyombo is likely to secure a standard contract now after debuting with the Spurs on the last day of his 10-day deal.

Looking ahead, Wembanyama's eligibility for a rookie maximum extension in 2026 could reach $326 million if he earns MVP, DPOY, or All-NBA honors. Despite this injury, the Spurs will continue to build around their unicorn. They will focus on re-signing Fox, who could opt for a four-year, $229 million extension in August. The Spurs could also land two lottery picks in June, depending on where their own draft picks and those from the Atlanta Hawks fall.

Before Wembanyama's injury, the Spurs faced a tough decision regarding their guard rotation. With Fox, rookie Stephon Castle, and veteran Chris Paul in the mix, San Antonio considered moving Paul to the bench. However, given their commitment to starting him this season, such a change seemed unlikely.

Now, Paul's role is even more uncertain. If the Spurs give up on their playoff hopes, they could opt to buy out Paul, allowing the 39-year-old player to join a contender. Alternatively, if they continue to fight for a postseason spot, they might deploy Paul, Fox, and Castle together, akin to Paul's time with the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder.

With a record of 24 wins and 29 losses, San Antonio's hopes of making the play-in hang by a thread. They are three games behind the 10th spot in the West and need to overtake the Phoenix Suns to stay in contention. However, with Wembanyama's absence, tanking could become a more viable strategy.

If the season ended today, San Antonio would enter the draft lottery in the 10th spot, the same position from which Atlanta jumped to No. 1 last year. Moving up to the eighth spot in the lottery would double their chances of securing the top pick. The Spurs could seize that opportunity to pair another young star with Wembanyama and Fox, strengthening their core for future competitions.

Other Effects of Victor Wembanyama's Injury

Before his injury, Wembanyama was the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. However, by missing a minimum of 65 games, he is out of contention for end-of-season awards, opening up the race to other contenders.

Jaren Jackson Jr., leader of the seventh-ranked defense in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies, and Evan Mobley, anchor of the eighth-ranked defense in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers, are now frontrunners. Jackson aims for his second DPOY award, while Mobley seeks his first. Economically, a DPOY win would boost Jackson's contract extension possibility to $345 million, while Mobley's would increase from $224 million to $269 million.

Guards can also contend for DPOY. Dyson Daniels, shooting guard for the Atlanta Hawks, is nearing a rare feat: averaging three steals per game, a mark not seen since 1990-91. Amen Thompson and Luguentz Dort also present compelling cases, with Dort leading the historically dominant Thunder defense.

Wembanyama's injury also impacts the All-NBA selections. His absence creates room for another star. LeBron James, at 40 years old, remains a dominant force. His recent 40-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers made him the first player in NBA history to have multiple 40-point games after turning 40.

James was already on track to be selected for All-NBA, but now, with one less competitor, he could move up from the Third Team to the Second Team. Other players likely to benefit from Wembanyama's absence are Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Cade Cunningham, and Alperen Sengun.

Wembanyama's status reverberates throughout the NBA, affecting playoff seeding, the draft lottery, and individual award battles. San Antonio must regroup and plan for the future, while players like LeBron, Jackson Jr., and Mobley could see their legacies altered due to his absence. The NBA landscape has altered drastically, demonstrating once more that even a single player's injury can have far-reaching consequences. It also highlights the impact Wemby already has on the NBA.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las causas de la lesión de Victor Wembanyama: DPOY, All-NBA, el Draft 2026 y... LeBron James