Portland Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli received an injection in his left knee on Tuesday, according to the team. The new injury will sideline him for six weeks.
According to the Blazers, the procedure was performed in order to “alleviate pain and improve function.”
Ezeli signed with the Blazers in July after spending the first four years of his career with the Golden State Warriors. The Vanderbilt product was viewed as one of the better free agent options at the center position. Nevertheless, a less-than-stellar injury history kept Ezeli from cashing in during a hectic spending spree.
The six week timetable means that Ezeli will likely be able to return to the team before the season starts. However, the missed offseason time is still a blow for a young player who needs to improve on raw skills.
The Blazers made a low-risk investment on Ezeli. The contract they paid him is both low in money and years. If Ezeli is unable to shake free of the constant knee injuries, the Blazers will not really suffer.
For Ezeli, however, this is the next in a long line of setbacks. The big man has played in 170 of a possible 324 games in his NBA career. There is no denying that the center has the potential to become a two-way force in the NBA. But with the constant, looming threat of knee injuries, Festus Ezeli’s career is at risk.
Hopefully, this is just a minor setback.
