There was a time when Victor Wembanyama was the most unstoppable force in the paint. The unicorn everyone saw coming. But then came the blindside. Not a sprained ankle or twisted knee, but something way scarier. A blood clot in his shoulder. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about missing games. It was about health, risk, and life off the court. Basketball took a backseat. And fans? Left biting their nails, waiting for an update that never seemed to come.

Five months passed. No flashy dunks, no freakish blocks, no Wemby highlights flooding timelines. The silence was heavy. Then the Euros came knocking, and France had to announce their squad. But where was Wemby? Add in Rudy Gobert and Mathias Lessort also missing, and French fans hit panic mode. What the hell was going on behind the scenes? Did Wembanyama suffer a setback? Was the blood clot worse than anyone thought? That’s when a single tweet lit it all up.

@MaximeAubin took to X and dropped the update fans had been holding their breath for. “I’m officially cleared to return. It just happened- I got the green light from the Spurs’ medical staff just a few hours ago (last Friday). Phew, I’ll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again!” Wemby himself told L’Équipe. It wasn’t just clearance. It was a reset button. After deep vein thrombosis was found in his right shoulder back in February, this was the news everyone hoped for but feared wouldn’t come. The Spurs’ medical team caught the condition early. And that probably saved not just a season but maybe more.

Wembanyama had been feeling off right after the All-Star break. Fatigue, discomfort, just… weird stuff. Within 48 hours of flying back to San Antonio, they ran tests and caught the clot. The diagnosis? Serious. Life-threatening if untreated. But the rehab was calculated. Light weights by April. Gradual court work. No hero ball. Just patience. Now? He’s back. Stats don’t lie. 24.3 points, 11 boards, 3.7 assists, and a league-best 3.8 blocks in 46 games last season. Had he hit the 65-game mark, Defensive Player of the Year was his to lose. But here he is now, reloaded.

Wemby’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Spurs, who were quietly retooling in the background. De’Aaron Fox arrived midseason. Kelly Olynyk came in for extra muscle. And the San Antonio Spurs just drafted two young studs in Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. The goal? Build the future around Wemby. And with him medically cleared, it finally feels like the plan’s alive again. But just as one door opened, another one slammed shut.

France hit with a frontcourt frenzy after EuroBasket news

The timing of Wembanyama’s green light stings just a little more when you realize where it landed. EuroBasket 2025 is around the corner, and France won’t just be missing Wemby. They’ll be without Rudy Gobert and Mathias Lessort, too. That’s three major towers gone from the paint. For a country used to bullying opponents inside, this changes everything. And fans who were hoping to see Wemby throw down on home soil? Yeah, heartbreak city.

Gobert pulled out back in June, making it only the second time he’s skipped a major tournament for France. Lessort’s story is rougher. After breaking his fibula late last year, he rushed back for the EuroLeague Final Four in May, only to be ruled out again by doctors. French GM Boris Diaw had held onto hope, saying, “we are quite confident, with Mathias, that he can be back in perfect condition by the start”… but the risk was just too high.

Now, France enters the tournament relying on names like Yabusele, Poirier, and maybe even Jaylen Hoard. There are some exciting young NBA faces like Coulibaly, Sarr, and Risacher, but make no mistake. This team’s entire frontcourt identity just got flipped. They’ll need to hustle through a brutal Group D featuring Slovenia, Israel, and Poland. And without their three interior anchors? The road just got longer. But hey, at least Wemby’s back where he belongs. And that’s a win, no matter what jersey he’s wearing next.