"It Can End People’s Careers”: Malika Andrews Suggests Victor Wembanyama’s Blood Clot Scare Is Fueling His Championship Push

The San Antonio Spurs are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. The most significant cog in their new machine is none other than 22-year-old French Star Victor Wembanyama, whose name is already being whispered in GOAT talks.

Wemby still has a long way to go, but he nearly had his career cut short. Midway through the 2024-25 season, he was diagnosed with a blood clot on his right shoulder. He was able to come back from it, and according to ESPN's Malika Andrews, that scare could be fuel for Wemby.

"Remember how much Victor has been through being so young," Andrews said. "His season was cut short with a blood clot. That's something that can end people's careers."

Andrew said that she wonders if Wemby is seizing the opportunity now, because he knows bigs generally have short careers. They often deal with major injuries sooner than their smaller counterparts, and the ESPN journalist wonders if that plays a factor for Wemby.

Later, Andrews announced that because of this, she also believes the Spurs will win this year's title.

"This series ain't done," Andrews said. "Wembanyama will play like his life depends on it. I got Wemby and the Spurs."

The Spurs do have their backs against the wall this time. They are down 2-0, and history is not on their side. No team has ever come back from that type of deficit after losing the first two at home.

Still, the series is not over. 10 years ago, the Cavs also accomplished a never-before-seen feat in the Finals. Before 2016, no team had come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. Then, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to what may very well be the greatest comeback in NBA history.

The San Antonio Spurs are not out yet, but Victor Wembanyama will have to step up for the rest of the series if they are to win.

The Knicks Have Contained Victor Wembanyama in Games 1 and 2

Both the first two games of the NBA Finals looked like they could have gone either way. However, the Knicks were always the team with more left in the tank.

A major reason for this is the fact that the Knicks always seemed to know how to slow Victor Wembanyama, especially in the early stages of the game.

In Game 1, the Knicks' defense held the Spurs' star to 9 points on 2-for-8 shooting in the first half. He eventually finished the game with 26, but 12 of those came from free throws.

Karl-Anthony Towns' defense played a major role in slowing Wemby down, holding him to a 2-for-12 clip.

In Game 2, Wemby did not assert himself in the first half. After two quarters, he had only attempted 4 field goals, sinking 2. He also converted on 3 free throws, for a lowly 7 points.

He did finish the game with 29 on an 11-for-21 clip, but had he been aggressive from the get-go, the final score might have looked different.

Not only is history not on the Spurs' side, but they're also facing a team that has all the momentum. Following their victory in Game 2, the New York Knicks are now winners of 13 straight.

To extinguish that fire, Victor Wembanyama is going to have to step up and play better than he ever has.