Whitmore has been diagnosed with the same condition that sidelined Victor Wembanyama and Damian Lillard last season.
Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore is the latest NBA player to be sidelined with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT).
The Wizards announced his condition on Tuesday. Whitmore was sidelined for two games with what was initially diagnosed as shoulder soreness. Further evaluation of the injury revealed his condition. Whitmore will now be sidelined indefinitely.
Whitmore, 21, is in this third NBA season after being selected with the No. 20 pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2023 NBA Draft. He's a rotation player for the Wizards who's averaging 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench.
What is deep-vein thrombosis?
DVT is an increasingly recurring condition among NBA players. It's a condition that comes with serious health risks and can have a significant impact on an athlete's career and availability to play.
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, typically in the legs. But it can occur in other parts of the body as well and appears in this case from the Wizards' announcement to have formed in Whitmore's right shoulder.
The most serious risk of the condition is that the blood clot travels from where it's formed and into a lung, where it can get lodged in an artery. This condition is called a pulmonary embolism and can be life-threatening.
Managing the condition and preventing worsening outcomes becomes a to -priority upon diagnosis. Blood-thinning medication is a common form of treatment. The Wizards did not announce if Whitmore would be placed on blood thinners.
Other NBA players to develop deep-vein thrombosis
Whitmore joins a growing list of NBA players to experience DVT, most recently including Damian Lillard and Victor Wembanyama.
Lillard was diagnosed with DVT in March when a blood clot formed in his right calf. He returned to play for the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs in late April, a surprisingly quick return to the court from his diagnosis.
He sustained a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg in a first-round game against the Indiana Pacers. It's unclear what, if any impact Lillard's DVT and recovery had on the Achilles tear that occurred in his opposite leg.
Wembanyama was diagnosed with DVT in his right shoulder in February. The San Antonio Spurs superstar did not play again in the 2024-25 season. He has returned to the court for the start of this season and has maintained his high-level of play when not sidelined by injuries unrelated to his DVT.
Ausar Thompson in 2024, Brandon Ingram in 2019 and Chris Bosh in 2015 are among other notable NBA players to have experienced deep-vein thrombosis. Bosh cut his Hall of Fame career short at 31 years old after his blood clot traveled to his lungs.
Category: General Sports
