Cooper Flagg Trending After Unfortunate Victor Wembanyama News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 9:18 PM ET

It was an eventful All-Star weekend for Victor Wembanyama, who might have had the most memorable moment in what was a forgettable few days at the NBA showcase when he and teammate Chris Paul tried to game the Skills Challenge by flinging up wild shots, a shrewd act that irritated the league. In fact, the duo was disqualified.

On the afternoon that the team was set to get back to action to wrap up the stretch run of the season, though, there was worse news for Wembanyama. His sophomore season would be cut short, as he was found to have a shoulder injury that would keep him out for the final two months.

"The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Victor Wembanyama has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder," the team wrote in a statement.

pic.twitter.com/rTlFYch2Rr
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 20, 2025

Wembanyama was the Rookie of the Year, and has been improved in his sophomore season, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists. He was the front-runner to be Defensive Player of the Year this season.

His injury has raised a familiar specter from the annals of NBA history. That's because the game's elders remember the 1996-97 season, when the Spurs had to shut down star David Robinson, which caused the team to go 20-62. That flop paved the way for them to win the NBA draft lottery and pick Tim Duncan, one of the most sought-after prospects of the decade, at No. 1.

With Wembanyama out, and with Duke's Cooper Flagg the hands-down No. 1 pick, perhaps history will repeat. That's why, in the wake of the Wembanyama news, Flagg was trending on social media.

Spurs have run this game before when David Robinson got hurt and they were able to draft Tim Duncan, laying the foundation for their title run.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) February 20, 2025

Remember when David Robinson got injured, and the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan that off-season

The Cooper Flagg tank begins pic.twitter.com/T0rcgNdOV4
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) February 20, 2025

Cooper Flagg, you are a Spur https://t.co/oY7aAAZYLi pic.twitter.com/H5YEwdDMDM
— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) February 20, 2025

Now, the Spurs are 23-29, and even without Wembanyama, it is unlikely they can drop significantly in the standings. They've got the 10th-worst record in the NBA, which would be good for a 3% chance at the No. 1 overall pick. It's possible they could fall to as low as eighth-worst in the NBA, but that only improves their hopes to about a 6% chance.

When the Spurs won the 1997 NBA draft lottery to get Duncan, they had the second-best odds on the board, at 21.6%.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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