Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — According to multiple reports, Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha is facing the possibility of season-ending knee surgery after suffering an injury in Friday night's loss to the Hornets.
The New York Times' Marc Stein was first to report that Sefolosha's injury could be a long-term absence. Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports is reporting that Sefolosha is expected to get the surgery on his MCL, while TNT's David Aldridge clarifies that Aldridge is likely to get surgery but will still seek the medical opinion of doctors in the week to come.
Sefolosha was averaging 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line. Sefolosha also led the Jazz in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus statistic.
How soon Sefolosha gets final word from his doctors will also impact the Jazz's salary cap situation. The NBA's deadline to file for a Disabled Player Exception is Monday, and the Jazz would need medical paperwork and the go-ahead from an NBA-approved physician in order to apply for such an exception. If Sefolosha is still getting second opinions from doctors this week, it may be too late.
Sefolosha had been in a three-man rotation at the Jazz's power forward spot, along with Joe Johnson and Jonas Jerebko. Those two will split minutes there until Rudy Gobert's return from injury moves Derrick Favors back to the power forward.
This report will be updated as information becomes available.
