The Atlanta Hawks are taking a bit of a blow on the injury front just before training camp. Power forward Paul Millsap will miss three weeks of action due to a non-surgical knee procedure, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Millsap suffered from swelling in his right knee during team scrimmages and workouts. Fortunately, it does not appear as though the injury was a major one, considering the timeline for the forward’s return.
Following from head coach Mike Budenholzer in a statement released by the team:
“After reviewing the options with Paul to treat his knee and provide him the best long-term care, we agreed, largely due to the time of year, that this was the best method and time to ensure his complete readiness for the start of the regular season.”
The statement also claims that Millsap will miss the first two preseason games as he recovers.
Millsap has been an oft-underrated player in the league. He has been the Hawks’ best player since arriving there from Utah. Last season, the big man played in 81 of 82 games and averaged 17.1 points and 9 rebounds per game, not to mention his phenomenal defense.
Hopefully the injury is as minor as it appears. It would be a shame if Paul Millsap’s on-court ability were hampered by it. For now, he will rest and recover while preparing for the start of the season.
