Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore has become the newest NBA player to be sidelined due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The team announced this on Tuesday; initially, Whitmore was thought to have shoulder soreness and missed two games, but further tests revealed DVT in his right shoulder. As a result, he will be out indefinitely.
At 21 years old, Whitmore is in his third NBA season, having been the 20th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is a key rotation player for the Wizards, averaging 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench.
DVT is an increasingly recognized condition in the NBA and poses serious health risks that can severely affect an athlete’s career. The condition happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, typically in the leg, but it can also develop in other areas like Whitmore’s shoulder. The biggest danger is that the clot could travel to the lungs, causing a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. Treatment usually involves blood-thinning medications, though the Wizards have not disclosed whether Whitmore is receiving these.
Whitmore becomes part of a growing list of NBA players who have been diagnosed with DVT, including Damian Lillard and Victor Wembanyama. Lillard was diagnosed last March after developing a clot in his right calf but made a surprisingly quick return to playoffs action with the Milwaukee Bucks in April. He later suffered a torn Achilles tendon, though it’s unclear if his DVT had any impact on that injury.
Wembanyama experienced DVT in his right shoulder earlier this year and missed the entire 2024-25 season but has come back strong this season when not sidelined by other injuries. Other NBA players who have dealt with DVT include Author Thompson (2024), Brandon Ingram (2019), and Chris Bosh (2015), whose Hall of Fame-worthy career ended prematurely due to clot complications that spread to his lungs.
Outside basketball, tennis legend Serena Williams battled a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots in her lungs in 2011. Despite being critically ill, she returned to the sport and went on to win nearly half of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles after recovery.
Fan Take: This news is a sobering reminder of the serious health challenges athletes face beyond their game performance. For basketball fans, understanding conditions like DVT highlights the importance of player health and safety, which could shape team rosters and careers in unexpected ways moving forward.
