Remember the silver-medal thrill of the 2024 Paris Olympics? Victor Wembanyama was everywhere, giving France that signature spine-tingling presence in the paint. The Eiffel Tower had competition that summer, and it wore Spurs’ number 1. But fast-forward to EuroBasket 2025, and suddenly, the floor felt emptier. No Wemby, no wall in the middle. France fell to Georgia in the Round of 16, and with that loss came a wave of questions: was this just a glitch, or the start of a larger pause in France’s rise?

The absence wasn’t tactical. It wasn’t voluntary. It was rather medical. A blood clot in his right shoulder required surgery and a slow, deliberate recovery. For a player whose body is both his gift and his challenge, every precaution mattered. That didn’t stop the whispers, though. Could France count on its 7’4” centerpiece when the stakes got highest?

That’s when Coach Frederic Fauthoux stepped forward to calm the storm. “Every time I call him, he guarantees me that he wants to come, that it’s important for him to wear the jersey of Ligue de France,” Fauthoux said. “So I’m going to believe him, really, because we have a fairly regular contact with him.” His words were steady, almost protective, reminding fans that this was not a player turning his back on country, but one safeguarding his future.

And Fauthoux didn’t shy away from humor either. “Sincerely, if I had been around Victor, I don’t think I would have recognized him this summer either. He didn’t have anything during the year.” And he was right. Wembanyama wasn’t the image of frailty. He was coming off an NBA campaign that had scouts, executives, and fans chattering about his ceiling. He had no reason to play coy. Only reason to heal.

Post-surgery, Wemby underwent a period of rehabilitation focused on managing postoperative pain, reducing tightness, and adjusting shoulder biomechanics altered by the procedure. Per reports, his rehabilitation was gradual and regulated, involving light conditioning and weightlifting at first, with a cautious approach to prevent re-injury. His recovery was reported as ahead of schedule. By July 2025, he was officially medically cleared to return to complete basketball activities, including contact play, with the assurance that the thrombosis should not recur.

Not only that, Victor revealed to Kevin Hart during a live session of “Cold as Balls” that he gained about 30 pounds since entering the NBA, increasing from around 215-220 pounds to approximately 245 pounds. He explained that his weight gain was mainly through strength training, but emphasized the importance of doing it carefully to avoid losing athleticism and mobility. 

Still, the balance is tricky. “Before you go, because it’s important, and especially for you, do you have any assurances that Victor Wembanyama, if he’s not injured, will be at the World Cup in 2027?” Fauthoux was asked. His response was telling: “I don’t think we have any assurances about that, unfortunately, because of the NBA and the players’ choices.”

The truth is obvious that global tournaments now live in the shadow of NBA schedules and priorities. And for Wembanyama, that NBA future is massive.

Victor Wembanyama’s future on both ends

The San Antonio Spurs have him positioned as the cornerstone of their franchise, and every move he makes has implications worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “He has a season that is very important for all those who follow NBA basketball, and very important for him personally as well,” Fauthoux said. That season includes matchups against the league’s best, potential playoff pushes, and the chance to cement himself not just as a star, but as the one star of a new generation. So where does that leave France?

On one hand, they have a generational player who insists he cares deeply about the jersey. On the other hand, the NBA’s demands and the financial stakes attached are enormous. International basketball has always asked stars to choose between country and career. With Wembanyama, that choice feels heavier, simply because his ceiling is so unprecedented.

Take his fellow Euro rival, for instance. Initially, Giannis Antetokounmpo did not participate in Greece’s early EuroBasket 2025 warm-up games due to an issue with unpaid insurance. The Greek Basketball Federation had not completed the insurance payment that would cover Giannis in case of injury during national team activities. Because FIBA’s insurance does not fully cover Giannis’ large NBA contract—$94.4 million over the next two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks demand an additional insurance payment to provide protection. Without this coverage and the Bucks’ written consent, Giannis was not allowed to play for Greece in the preparation matches.

But Fauthoux made it clear he trusts Wembanyama’s words. “Because he will have a close encounter at the end of the season. Exactly. If he doesn’t come, I know his father. If he doesn’t come, you take his father, he’s two meters tall. They’re all two meters tall. Even the wife of the manager took him two meters.” The joke broke the tension, but the sentiment stuck. France wants Wembanyama. France needs Wembanyama. And France believes Wembanyama. So do the Spurs.

What comes next is less about loyalty and more about logistics. The Spurs will protect their investment. France will call every summer. And Wembanyama, as he’s always done, will find himself walking that tightrope between national pride and professional obligation. The silver in Paris was a glimpse. And the absence at EuroBasket was a reminder. The 2027 World Cup? That could very well be the answer.

For now, the only certainty is that Victor Wembanyama’s shadow, whether on the court or off it, remains impossible to miss.