Texas Doctor Identifies Red Flag in Victor Wembanyama’s Change That Troubled NBA Legends

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is all set to enter his third season in the NBA after having arguably the most fascinating summer. The Frenchman had a pretty unique approach this offseason after being cleared to play basketball. Wemby did a little bit of everything-from learning Kung Fu to honing his skills with NBA legends. It seems like the Spurs’ big man has made plenty of changes to his training regimen, as he hopes to carry his team to the playoffs. However, the changes he’s made aren’t limited to just the court, and it is linked to one of Luka Doncic’s troubles.

The seven-foot-three center has also put up some weight. Although there are no official records to this as of now, many believe that by looking at Wembanyama, you could tell that he has bulked up. Well, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that the 21-year-old suffered from a deep vein thrombosis injury on his right shoulder, which cut short his season. While it’s totally normal to put on some muscle, what makes Victor Wembanyama’s situation so interesting is, of course, his big frame.

The young star has previously been adamant that he doesn’t want to put on more weight, as he wants to remain mobile and athletic. However, it seems that to avoid being injured or outpowered by other bigs in the league, the All-Star center has decided to go back on his word. However, according to a Texas-based doctor, Dr. Ryan McCorkle, this might not be the wisest approach for the big man in the long run.

While chatting with ‘Locked On Spurs’ host Jeff Garcia, Dr. McCorkle revealed why putting on weight could trouble Wembanyama, just like it did to superstars like Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James. “So he’s filling out the way you see all NBA players who started 18 kind of fill out. Even, you know, Kevin Garnett– famously always slim but started to fill out. Tim Duncan, you could definitely tell the difference in him between, you know, five years into his career,” he said.

“But I think the big point that Wembanyama is making is adding lots of bulk muscle and weight puts a lot of strain on ligaments. You’re carrying extra weight on your knees. This happened to both LeBron and Kobe, where they were worried about taking contact, and they bulked up, and it just made it harder on their knees, and they went back and slimmed down. So, it bulked up didn’t really work very well for their long-term longevity of their career.” The Doctor further explained.

While Dr. McCorkle noted that it’s only normal for players who enter the league as teenagers to gain some muscle, as their bodies continue to grow, he did warn Wembanyama about the consequences of bulking more than his body could handle. LeBron James once endured a dip in performance that many linked to weight gain (from 271 pounds to 278 pounds) and persistent back pain.

The extra pounds placed added strain on his lower spine, turning minor discomfort into a looming threat. At its worst, the issue raised real questions about whether he could sustain the level of dominance fans had come to expect, especially given the relentless physical demands of an NBA season. Left unchecked, it was the kind of problem that could have derailed his career. Kobe Bryant once admitted that while 225 pounds felt fine, being back on the floor convinced him he needed to shed weight. Even the game’s greatest stars must constantly monitor their bodies to stay sharp.

So, this is something even Victor Wembanyama will have to keep a close eye on if he doesn’t want to become injury-prone in the future. Nonetheless, the San Antonio Spurs haven’t hit the panic button just yet, because the 21-year-old is far from hitting the overweight territory. But it is something they’ll definitely look into down the road, as the Spurs gear up for a crucial campaign, which could also be the French center’s first MVP season.

Victor Wembanyama could challenge for the MVP if everything clicks for the Spurs

Although San Antonio Spurs’ big man Victor Wembanyama’s second year in the league was cut short due to a devastating shoulder injury, he’s back for his third season and is looking as good as ever. Which should make you wonder whether this could finally be the year when we see the 21-year-old prodigy finally claim his first MVP trophy. Well, while there’s a chance, of course, he’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Nonetheless, if anyone has the talent and skillset to defeat these two perennial superstars, it’s Wembanyama. Last season, despite him not being able to finish the campaign, the All-Star center averaged 24.3 points along with 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Not to mention, his incredible defensive stats that saw him average 1.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. So, there’s no doubt that Wemby does have more than enough talent to have a solid claim at the trophy.

However, a lot will depend on how well the Spurs do in the regular season. The 2024-25 season wasn’t the best for San Antonio as they finished the campaign with a terrible 34-48 record. However, this season, they’ve drafted in some insane talent like Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. Adding that up with the fact that this will be De’Aaron Fox’s first full season with the team, expectations are pretty high from the Spurs. So, if they can stand tall on business, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Victor Wembanyama becomes a favorite on the MVP list.