Washington Wizards rookie ahead Deni Avdija suffered a season-ending hairline fracture in his proper ankle throughout Wednesday evening’s sport, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Avdija landed awkwardly after lacking a layup late within the second quarter in opposition to the visiting Golden State Warriors and was taken off the court docket in a wheelchair.
Avdija underwent X-rays on the ankle that exposed the hairline fracture, which won’t require surgical procedure and has a restoration time of two to 3 months, the supply instructed Wojnarowski. An MRI is about for Thursday to test for ligament harm.
Avdija lay on the ground for a number of minutes following the harm, as teammates lined his decrease proper leg with a pair of warm-up pants from the bench because the coaching employees arrived.
“Seeing a man go down like that’s actual scary,” stated Wizards heart Daniel Gafford. “You by no means know what will occur. Seeing him down on the ground so long as that, I felt his ache. I perceive it will be a protracted highway to restoration, however with the trainers that we acquired, he is in good fingers.
“It is a robust blow for him proper now, as a result of I’m fairly certain he’s going to be out for an excellent period of time. It is actual robust. An ankle harm is likely one of the worst accidents to me, as a result of I’ve been by way of that.”
Washington chosen Avdija, 20, out of his native Israel with the ninth choose in final yr’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 small ahead is averaging 6.three factors and four.9 rebounds this season.
“Two issues about Deni I like: He cares rather a lot and he works extraordinarily exhausting,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks stated. “And people are two traits that we would like our program to be about. Has he had an up-and-down yr, completely. You take a look at all the good rookies, the MVPs within the league, take a look at their rookie yr, it is no totally different. Generally, we put an excessive amount of stress on these gamers to be 27-year-olds straight away.
“Deni cares, he works exhausting, is an impressive child and we’re fortunate to have him on our staff. We’re going to preserve getting him higher.”
The Wizards already are with out beginning heart Thomas Bryant, who’s out for the season with a torn left ACL. And ahead Rui Hachimura didn’t play Wednesday due to left knee soreness.
All-Star guard Bradley Beal rallied Washington within the fourth quarter for its season-best sixth straight victory, 118-114, within the first Wizards residence sport with followers in additional than a yr. Beal, who has endured his share of leg accidents throughout his profession, stated he talked to Avdija after the sport and that the rookie was in good spirits.
“My recommendation can be the identical I might give myself after I was a rookie,” Beal stated of coping with a long-term harm. “Simply understanding your physique is rising, there are going to be some ups and downs, there’s going to be a number of stuff you possibly can’t management.
“Simply staying constructive, understanding that you may come again on the opposite aspect of this a greater participant and even stronger.”
ESPN’s Nick Friedell and The Related Press contributed to this report.