March 11, 2016
We now know why Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor has missed his team's last five games, beyond the bruised right shin listed on the medical report.
According to a press release sent out by the Sixers on Friday afternoon, Okafor will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn right meniscus and will miss at least the next six weeks. Here's more from GM Sam Hinkie:
“Jahlil recently started to experience discomfort in his right knee, which we immediately investigated. After a comprehensive series of tests and additional evaluation by our medical team, it was revealed that he has a small tear of the meniscus. Jahlil will undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure to address the injury. Timing and details of the procedure will be finalized in the coming days.
"Our medical team will continually monitor and evaluate Jahlil's progress, and we anticipate he will resume full basketball activities in approximately six weeks." [sixers.com]
Unfortunately, the timing of the surgery likely spells the end of Okafor's rookie season. The Sixers only have about a month left in the season, so even if the 20-year-old was to recover more quickly than expected, it would make little sense to rush him back for the final few games of a meaningless regular season.
Back in December, Okafor missed a pair of games with soreness in the same knee, and earlier this week head coach Brett Brown announced that the rookie center would undergo a CT scan on that knee.
In 53 games this season, the Duke product and third-overall pick in last summer's draft is averaging 17.5 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
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