Victor Wembanyama Finally Gives Update on Season-Ending Medical Condition to Hakeem Olajuwon at NCAA Title Game

San Antonio’s season is basically toast, but it’s kind of crazy that it took this long to officially rule them out. They’ve only got four games left, and with De’Aaron Fox missing weeks, and Victor Wembanyama out since mid-February, you’d think they would’ve hit the wall sooner. Now, Wemby’s absence isn’t your typical “rest day” situation either.
He’s been dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder—yeah, that’s a blood clot. Sounds intense, and it is. If that thing moves? It could mess with your lungs, your heart, even your brain. We’re talking scary stuff—pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, you name it.
Still, he’s not completely out of the mix. I mean, the guy just showed up at the NCAA men’s title game like a true hoops fan. The championship is going down in San Antonio, and of course, Wemby pulled up to take it all in.
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Florida and Houston are the last two standing. Florida barely squeaked past Auburn, and Houston stunned Duke to punch their ticket. It’s a heavyweight matchup. And here’s the coolest part—Wemby got to meet Hakeem Olajuwon at the game. That’s not just a photo-op, that’s history shaking hands with the future.
And when ‘The Dream’ asked how he was doing, Wemby looked him in the eye and said, “I’m fine now.” Victor didn’t just show up to the NCAA title game—he pulled up styling. The man was rocking cornrows for the first time, and honestly? It was a look!
Funny thing is, for all the hype around college hoops, Wemby never played a second of it. He grew up in France, trained in the European academy system, and never got the full March Madness experience like most American prospects. Still, you can’t help but imagine the chaos if he had taken the college route. Picture Wemby at Duke, Kentucky, or even Texas—one year, a bunch of highlights, and straight to the league. No chance he’d have stuck around for a sophomore season.
Still, even without the college spotlight, Wemby’s name rings out louder than a buzzer-beater in March. And lately, he’s been stirring up some real talk in NBA circles—especially thanks to Shaq.
Shaq believes he’d beat Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren in his prime
On The Big Podcast, the ‘Diesel’ didn’t hold back when asked about how teams might adjust to young unicorns like Wemby and Chet Holmgren. Shaq, being Shaq, basically said, “Nah, I’d bully both into retirement.” And honestly? It was vintage Shaq.
“No. And I hate putting myself forward, but I would make both of them mother—– quit,” he said, not pulling any punches. He called out the fact that a 7’4″ guy shooting jumpers doesn’t want smoke in the paint. “If I’m 7’4, I want to make everything easy… 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% if you [expletive] me off,” he added.
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Shaq’s take is a reminder that the game’s changed—like, a lot. Today’s big men don’t always live in the paint like he did. Guys like Nikola Jokic are proving that centers can stretch the floor and still dominate. The dude’s hitting 42% from deep this season. That’s not normal for a seven-footer.
USA Today via Reuters Nov 17, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
And then there’s Wemby and Chet. These two aren’t just tall—they’re mobile, wiry, and play like guards half their size. They’re often 40 to 50 pounds lighter than the bigs they go up against, but that gives them an edge in speed and versatility. They don’t just post up—they fly around the floor. The old-school bruiser role? It’s been remixed.
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The league’s evolving right in front of us. You’ve got legends like Shaq talking their talk, holding firm to that physical, bruising style of play. But on the other side, you’ve got Wemby and Chet—young giants rewriting the rules with fluid handles, deep range, and guard-like movement.
It’s not about who’s better. It’s about how the game keeps shifting. These new-age bigs aren’t just changing scouting reports—they’re redefining what dominance looks like.