AUSTIN, Texas -- San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the season with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, the team announced Thursday.

The Spurs said in a statement that the condition, a form of a blood clot, was discovered after Wembanyama returned to San Antonio after the All-Star Game. The condition is typically treated with blood-thinning medication, which usually precludes a player from participating in a contact sport such as basketball.

Wembanyama started feeling symptomatic recently but believed he would feel better after two days off following the All-Star Game, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. When symptoms persisted, Wembanyama underwent a battery of tests that showed the clot.

A team source told ESPN that the Spurs are optimistic that Wembanyama will make a full recovery by the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

"It's tough," Spurs point guard Chris Paul said. "Tough more than anything, I think for all of us, knowing how much he means to our team, but more so knowing how much he means to the game and how much he loves to play."

Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year and a first-time All-Star this season, was averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-leading 3.8 blocks in 46 games for the 23-29 Spurs.

The team said in its statement that updates on Wembanyama's condition would be provided as appropriate.

"I think everybody understands that basketball is what we do and not who we are," Paul said. "So life and everything is so much more important, but for us, we know losing a big part of our team like that is [made up for] by committee. And trust me, you can't replace Vic. I can't stand on a guy's shoulders and block every shot that comes to the rim.

"Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room I think is what we'll miss the most."

Wembanyama will not be eligible for All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year and other major awards because he did not meet the 65-game minimum. Wembanyama had been a -2000 favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year at ESPN BET and had attracted over three times as many bets to win the award prior to the Spurs' announcement. Afterward, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. moved from +2500 to Defensive Player of the Year favorite at -130.

Wembanyama's departure is a second big loss for the Spurs this season, coming about 3 months after coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take an indefinite leave from the sideline.

Wembanyama had already taken 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots this season. No player in NBA history has ever finished a season with those numbers, and Wembanyama did it before the All-Star break.

Information from ESPN's David Purdum and The Associated Press was used in this report.