Another star has fallen as the San Antonio Spurs have ruled Victor Wembanyama out for the remainder of the season with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The second-year center has been dealing with a blood clot which has been a cautionary tale for players before him such as former Miami Heat star, Chris Bosh, who retired due to the severity of the diagnosis.
Not only does this put a damper on Wemby's phenomenal sophomore campaign, but it's a concerning factor that could potentially impact the rest of his career.
Let's take a look at how this 2024-25 season has panned out for the rising sensation and how his latest injury news affects several key NBA award races.
Wembanyama's season to date
Wembanyama left little doubt about his unicorn status during the first half of the 2024-25 season. From leading the league in swats to being the first player ever to average 3+ blocks and 3+ threes per game, Wemby found countless ways to flourish.
The Spurs big man became the youngest center with a 50-point game after a November victory over the Washington Wizards, and he didn't stop there. Wemby also become the youngest center to notch multiple 30-point triple-doubles shortly thereafter.
The numbers never lie and looking at his stat line throughout this season just goes to show that Wemby was one of the NBA's most dominant two-way forces.
| PTS | REB | AST | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.3 | 11.0 | 3.7 | 3.8 |
How Wembanyama's absence affects NBA award races
Not only was Wemby atop the Defensive Player of the Year odds board, but he was also front and center in the Most Improved Player conversation as well as he found new ways to elevate his already lofty game. Unfortunately, he's no longer in the running for either award due to the NBA's rule requiring players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible.
Defensive Player of the Year
| Player |  |
|---|---|
 Jaren Jackson Jr. |
-125 |
 Evan Mobley |
+105 |
 Luguentz Dort |
+1200 |
 Dyson Daniels |
+1300 |
| Jalen Williams |
+2500 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
+3000 |
 Amen Thompson |
+3500 |
 Rudy Gobert |
+6000 |
 Bam Adebayo |
+7000 |
 Ivica Zubac |
+10000 |
 Giannis Antetokounmpo |
+15000 |
Odds as of 2-20.
With Wemby now out of the picture, Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. (-125 at bet365) emerges as the the current favorite to win DPOY. But a tight race with Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley (+105 at bet365) will make the outcome even closer than expected.
Most Improved Player of the Year
| Player | |
|---|---|
 Cade Cunningham |
-120 |
| Norman Powell |
+110 |
| Tyler Herro |
+1500 |
| Amen Thompson |
+4500 |
 Christian Braun |
+5500 |
| Dyson Daniels |
+6000 |
 Evan Mobley |
+6000 |
| Jalen Williams |
+7500 |
 Max Christie |
+10000 |
After opening this season as the favorite, Wemby dropped down as the Most Improved Player odds table as the season progressed, giving way to Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (-120 at bet365).
Regardless of falling a few spots, Wemby had remained heavy in the mix after putting up numbers that have never been seen before, especially by a player his age.
Popular NBA futures odds
- NBA championship odds
- NBA Rookie of the Year odds
- NBA Most Improved Player odds
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds
NBA MVP
| Player | |
|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
-500 |
 Nikola Jokic |
+350 |
 Giannis Antetokounmpo |
+7500 |
 Jayson Tatum |
+25000 |
| Donovan Mitchell |
+50000 |
 Karl-Anthony Towns |
+50000 |
| Jalen Brunson |
+50000 |
| Anthony Edwards |
+50000 |
Odds as of 2-20
Wemby's two-way brilliance had him positioned in the Top 5 in NBA MVP odds at the time of the Spurs' announcement, although it's unlikely he would have won the award this year. That honor is almost certainly going to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose prohibitive -500 odds have him well ahead of the pack as the league enters the second half of the season.
In addition to leading the league in scoring, SGA also has OKC in first place in the competitive Western Conference, where the Thunder sit a full eight games above the second-place Houston Rockets.
The 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander had to bide his time before becoming the NBA's top dog, and Wemby will likely follow a similar path as he continues to mature and work through his present health scare.
