Victor Wembanyama’s Injury Could Actually Help Build a Spurs Dynasty

BREAKING: Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss remainder of the season with a deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder pic.twitter.com/7Fjg5N6eX7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2025

Wembanyama, a player who was even deemed as a potential sleeper pick for NBA MVP this season, will now have to take a backseat and get ready for what promises to be a long road to recovery.

Thankfully for Spurs fans, NBA rumors are already circling around that the team is fully expectant and optimistic that Wemby will be able to return in full strength next season.

The Spurs are optimistic that Victor Wembanyama will make a full recovery by the beginning of next season, a team source told ESPN.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 20, 2025

Right until being sidelined yesterday, Wembanyama, who was coming off his first All-Star appearance this past weekend led all NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award odds lists by a mile. Now, with -115 odds, Memphis Grizzlies defensive star Jaren Jackson Jr. has taken over favoritism and looks like a lock to win.

Something normal for a player deemed as the “Block Panther.”

Coming back to Wembanyama’s injury, what exactly happened to him? And how did it happen? While I could put on my Dr. hat and try to give an explanation, the most rational solution is to have a professional do so.

Explanation of Victor Wembanyama’s blood clot pic.twitter.com/GLh7RxS9OZ

— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) February 20, 2025

So what’s next for the Spurs this season, and how could the team’s 2025 NBA Draft plans be affected by Wemby’s injury?

What Does Wemby’s Absence Mean for San Antonio?

Currently holding a 24-29 record thus far, and coming off their first win without the French All-Star, 120-109 against the Phoenix Suns, anybody would think the Spurs could try and find a way to navigate through the rest of the season.

But no, with 29 NBA games left in the regular season, there’s as much value in believing in a Spurs playoff run as there is in believing the Flint Tropics will be joining the league anytime soon.

As the team’s odds to make the NBA playoffs shifted to +900 to make it and -2500 for not making it to the postseason, a far cry from the -800 mark before the injury, looking back at the beginning of the season when I wrote about CP3 possibly being the key to lead Wemby to an NBA title, revisiting San Antonio’s title aspirations feels like a rational thing to do here.

Looking at Victor Wembanyama’s stats until now, averaging 24.3 points,11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game, the man was putting on some of the strongest and most consistent stat lines in all of the league.

Victor Wembanyama’s year 2 is officially over:

24.3 PPG
11.0 RPG
3.8 BPG
1.1 SPG
59.4 TS%

Made his first all-star appearance and would’ve easily been DPOY. Still only 21 years old, the future is bright in San Antionio 👽 pic.twitter.com/k0kfz9rlyy

— NBA World (@NBAW0RLD24) February 20, 2025

No wonder Wemby was vocal last season about critiquing the work ethic of fellow NBA stars. The man wasn’t selling nachos in a concession stand because he probably couldn’t leave the court fast enough.

For true Spurs fans, Wembanyama’s talents and ethic have continuously reminded them of another certain team star who right after coming into the league would become one of San Antonio’s biggest stars in history.

What was his name again? It started with a T. Oh yes, Tim Duncan!

Victor Wembanyama reminds @seanelliott_32 of Tim Duncan 👀

“Pop would have to kick Timmy out of the gym, saying ‘It’s time to go home.’ Wemby has that kind of mentality…he wants to bury you.”@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/XL3VhaWh3i

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 21, 2025

Now, what if the Spurs can replicate Duncan’s effect next season?

Could #TankforFlagg Become a Thing for the Spurs?

Now that the Spurs’ betting odds have started to tank, what’s stopping the team from tanking the rest of the season in order to land the No.1 pick in next season’s draft?

Back before Duncan was drafted by the Spurs, San Antonio went down a similar route, following David Robinson’s season-ending injury.

So why not replicate the same strategy to land the player being deemed as the next generational talent out of college basketball, Duke’s Cooper Flagg?

Remember when David Robinson got injured, and the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan that off-season 🤔

The Cooper Flagg tank begins 👀 pic.twitter.com/T0rcgNdOV4

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) February 20, 2025

Today, San Antonio holds +1200 odds to snag Flagg up in next season’s draft with the No.1 overall pick. With the team now having to face the rest of the season without Wemby, if you look up any NBA picks and predictions regarding San Antonio’s and Flagg’s paths crossing in the near future, I’d be buying into the narrative before it’s too late.

With Victor Wembanyama expected to miss the rest of the season, @windhorstESPN breaks down the Spurs’ draft position and the potential to land a top-three pick 🍿 pic.twitter.com/VVu8wTuwBQ

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 21, 2025

The idea of a fully healthy Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Flagg tearing it up next season could automatically take the Spurs’ NBA Championship odds to a whole new level, one where the word dynasty could be thrown in without much hesitation.

Cooper Flagg, you are a Spur https://t.co/oY7aAAZYLi pic.twitter.com/H5YEwdDMDM

— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) February 20, 2025

Just picture it, Wemby, Fox, and Flagg led by coach Pop. That would make fora must-watch TV.