Blood Clot Sidelines Wizards’ Cam Whitmore Indefinitely
Cam Whitmore will be out of action for the Washington Wizards after doctors discovered a blood clot in his right shoulder. The 21-year-old forward has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the team announced Tuesday.
The discovery came after Whitmore had been sitting out with what was initially described as shoulder soreness. Further tests revealed the more serious condition.
This isn’t just a minor injury. DVT happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein and can be dangerous if not treated properly.
Whitmore isn’t the first NBA player to face this health challenge. Victor Wembanyama and Damian Lillard both missed significant time with similar blood clot issues in recent seasons.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the young forward who joined the Wizards this summer as part of a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets. The move was supposed to give him a bigger role on Washington’s rebuilding team.
He was starting to find his footing too. Before the diagnosis, Whitmore was putting up 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in about 17 minutes per game across 21 appearances this season.
His NBA career had shown real promise. During his rookie year with the Rockets, he averaged 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds while hitting nearly 36% of his three-pointers.
The Wizards, already struggling with one of the league’s worst records, now face an even tougher challenge without one of their developing young talents.
Coach Brian Keefe had been working closely with Whitmore to expand his role when the health issue emerged.
The team has made it clear that Whitmore’s health comes first. Long-term recovery is the priority over rushing him back to the court.
There is some good news, though. Other NBA players have successfully returned from DVT with proper treatment. Both Wembanyama and Lillard eventually made it back to the court after their battles with blood clots.
For now, Whitmore will focus on treatment and monitoring. The Wizards plan to provide updates as his rehabilitation progresses and they get a clearer picture of when he might return to action.
