The Cam Whitmore experiment in Washington has gotten off to a bit of a rough start, but then again so has the entire season for the Wizards.
To make matters worse, as if the team needed any more bad news added to their plate, the Whitmore experiment will be forced to be put on pause indefinitely as the former first-round pick finds himself facing a health concern that can't be put off.
Here's everything you need to know about Whitmore's injury, potential timetable for a return and how the Wizards could look to navigate while the Villanova product recovers.
Cam Whitmore sidelined with deep vein thrombosis
ESPN Insider Shams Charania announced on Tuesday that Cam Whitmore was set to be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with an upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis.
Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 23, 2025
Whitmore had missed the last few games with what was labeled as shoulder soreness on the Wizards injury report. After the soreness persisted, further testing revealed that the forward was dealing with a blood clot that would take him out of action for the forseeable future as he looks to navigate his recovery back to full health.
Over recent weeks, Whitmore had been working closely with head coach Brian Keefe as the team continues to prioritize the high-upside prospect's development.
Looking for a way to tap into his extreme potential after a lackluster start led to his benching that eventually caused a lot of noise surrounding the forward, Whitmore's work will have to be put on pause.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was shut down just last season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
Wemby was sidelined for about eight months before returning to play, which could be a similar timeline for Whitmore depending on how his body reacts to the blood thinners doctors put him on looking to fix the issue.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard, who was sidelined with a deep vein thrombosis in his calf missed just over a month of game play recovering in time to make a postseason run with the Milwaukee Bucks in Aprl last season after being sidelined in March.
Whitmore's recovery could vary and when he's fully cleared to return, expect the Wizards to make reinsert him back into the thick of things as they look to continue working with the forward.
However, Washington will be forced to test out a variety of different lineups in the absence of Whitmore, which could lead to increased minutes for young players like Will Riley or even Jamir Watkins, who's flashed at times with his defensive upside.