San Antonio Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama cleared to return: reports

NEW YORK – Victor Wembanyama has been medically cleared to return to the San Antonio Spurs after being sidelined in February with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, according to multiple reports.

The 21-year-old Frenchman told L’Equipe: “I’m officially cleared to return”, in a story published on July 14, with ESPN confirming that the Spurs have cleared his return for next season.

Nicknamed “Wemby”, he was the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie of the Year in 2024 and an All-Star this past season, which ended for the centre on Feb 20 when the team shut him down after the shoulder injury was discovered.

The 2.21m player averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.8 blocked shots and 1.1 steals a game over 46 contests for the Spurs last season.

The NBA club had said he was expected back in time for the start of Spurs training camp in late September, but his recovery came much earlier than first predicted.

Wembanyama has been in Las Vegas for the past few days watching the Spurs’ newest prospects play in the NBA Summer League.

Elsewhere, Philadelphia 76ers star forward Paul George underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on July 14 after an injury in a recent workout, the team announced.

The 35-year-old American had a successful operation in New York and will begin a rehabilitation programme with progress regularly monitored and a re-evaluation before the start of training camp in late September.

George, a nine-time NBA All-Star, was signed by the Sixers last July after stints with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Philadelphia, who have not gone past the second round of the play-offs since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals, were expected to contend for the crown with George joining star centre Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey on a four-year deal worth US$212 million (S$272.5 million).

But the 76ers went 24-58, their worst record since 2015-16, and missed the play-offs.

George was nagged by multiple injuries, including a knee bone bruise and adductor issues, and was benched for the season on March 17 with knee injuries, after averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 41 games.

Embiid played in only 19 games due to injuries and the star trio, with George and Maxey, were only on the court together in 15 contests.

Over a 15-season NBA career, George has averaged 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed president of basketball operations Koby Altman to a contract extension until the 2029-30 season, the team announced July 14, following an ESPN report.

Deals for Altman’s staff – including general manager Mike Gansey, assistant general manager Brandon Weems, vice-president of basketball operations/general counsel Jason Hillman and vice-president of basketball strategy and personnel Jon Nichols – were also extended through 2030. AFP, REUTERS