The San Antonio Spurs are without their leading star this season after Victor Wembanyama was ruled out with blood clots. It’s going to be a tough few months for the superstar big man but Kevin Durant recently gave him some advice that could prove useful.
“I’m thinking about Vic. I’m sure the whole basketball world is thinking about it, but somebody like that who has a strong mind … he’s going to put his best foot forward,” Durant said via Sports Illustrated. “I don’t even know Vic well enough, but I can just tell. Go find some more Legos to put together, read some new books, and then when it’s time to get back on the court… lock in.”
Kevin Durant knows what it’s like to deal with major health problems. In the 2018-19 campaign, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the NBA Finals that cost him the entirety of the following season. The injury has been known to end careers, but Durant was able to make a full recovery and he’s still active today with averages of 27.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 53.5% shooting.
Durant has spoken highly of Victor Wembanyama in the past and he’s known to be a strong believer in the young big man. In turn, Victor has labeled Durant as his all-time favorite player and has expressed a desire to learn from him.
This season, Victor’s second in the league; he averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game on 47.6% shooting. He led the Spurs to a 23-29 record in the West before being ruled out for the season.
The official reasoning is due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, which will not only keep Victor out for the rest of this season but might also have implications for his future health.
The Spurs are meeting with Victor’s team to discuss the next steps, but fans are already starting to panic. If Victor is compromised in any way, it could limit his development as a player and stint his growth into a superstar.
The good news is, the Spurs don’t expect any permanent problems for Wembanyama and by the start of next season, he should be fully recovered and ready to play. In the meantime, Wemby is better off taking Kevin Durant’s advice and finding ways to keep himself busy until he can rejoin his teammates on the court.
After acquiring De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs are likely going to hover around the 12th seed in the West but they might make a push for the play-in if youngsters like Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell can step up in Victor’s absence.
If not, the Spurs will have to wait until next season before trying to make a run in the West. When healthy, Victor Wembanyama is one of the best players in the game and his superior work ethic puts him in elite company.
It’s no doubt killing the 21-year-old to not be out there with his team but he can still find ways to contribute without being on the floor. Over the next few months, Victor will be around his teammates as much as he can, just biding his time until he’s able to return and lead them to glory.
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