Ever the Captain, Chris Paul Ushers in San Antonio Spurs' New Reality

AUSTIN, Texas — The San Antonio Spurs found out Thursday morning.

The intimate details of how each player learned that their 21-year-old teammate, Victor Wembanyama, would be missing the remainder of the regular season are going to remain private.

"That's for us," said Chris Paul, serving as the Spurs' locker room spokesman.

They shared just enough.

Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, a form of blood clot, in his right shoulder. Prior to NBA All-Star Break, concerns regarding the center's energy levels were investigated by San Antonio's medical staff, which resulted in his season-ending diagnosis.

The Spurs are optimistic that the second-year star can, and will, make a full recovery prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.

"It's tough more than anything," Paul added of the news, "for all of us. Knowing how much he means to our team, but more so how much he means to the game and how much he loves to play."

Wembanyama's road ahead is far from easy, but "easy" is seldom a concern.

"Vic is 21," Paul said. "For me, at that age, you can't imagine not playing and missing a game. I think he'll attack recovery as well as you possibly can."

Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chuck’s Global Stars forward Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs warms up before the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Prior to his diagnosis, Wembanyama was working on a sophomore year campaign much stronger than his rookie season. In 46 appearances, the 7-foot-4 star averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game on 47 percent shooting from the field.

Now out for the year, he'll fall short of the league-mandated 65-game threshold to qualify for any end-of-season awards.

But his impact goes far beyond the qualitative.

"He's one of the best humans I've ever met in this league," Paul said. "More than anything, we just miss him being around."

"You don't get around too many people like that, period," Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox added. "Especially not at that age ... it definitely speaks a lot about his character."

Thursday's shootaround, all things considered, felt wonted. Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson competed in a 3-point drill while Devin Vassell worked from mid range. Across the court, Mitch Johnson took it all in and watched.

As Paul preached several times, they still had a job to do.

"A lot of us are together more than we're with our own families," the veteran said. "We've become a family. You keep things in perspective as far as life and what it means, but when the game comes around, we've got a job to do. That's a time for us to get everything off our mind, actually."

When the game's final buzzer sounds, the haven San Antonio finds on the court won't be there any longer. That's when coping gets harder; listening will grow more important.

Paul knows the 7-foot gap Wembanyama leaves behind isn't easily filled.

"Trust me, you can't replace Vic," the point guard said lightheartedly. "I can't stand on a guy's shoulders and block every shot that comes to the rim."

He also can't pick up a clipboard and coach in Gregg Popovich's absence — the Hall-of-Fame coach is the second piece San Antonio has dearly missed since his mild stroke on Nov. 2 — even if he wanted to.

"It is wild to think of the circumstances and situations we've been through as a team this year," Paul said. "Everybody understands that basketball is what we do, not who we are. Life is so much more important, but for us, we know losing a big part of our team is by committee."

So, the Spurs will stick together. Their committee, now with more to play for than before, will take the court against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in Austin on Thursday night. Afterward, they'll continue their Rodeo Road Trip and work to make the postseason push they still feel capable of.

A new reality now befalls the Spurs, but internally, their mission is the same.

Ever the captain, Paul is the one leading that charge.

"That’s the plan,” he said of the playoffs. “That is absolutely the plan. That didn’t change. I know Vic. I know Pop. They wouldn't have it any other way."