Jefferson sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee
when he collided with a teammate during a workout at the team’s Target
Center training facility on Tuesday.
when he collided with a teammate during a workout at the team’s Target
Center training facility on Tuesday.
From the Associated Press:
Jefferson injured his right knee during a pickup game with teammates.
An MRI revealed a mildly sprained medial collateral ligament, and
Jefferson is expected to miss only two to three weeks. Team doctors
have told him he will be back well ahead of the Oct. 29 opener against
Sacramento.
An MRI revealed a mildly sprained medial collateral ligament, and
Jefferson is expected to miss only two to three weeks. Team doctors
have told him he will be back well ahead of the Oct. 29 opener against
Sacramento.
"It’s always a concern when your best player goes down clutching his
knee like he did,” Hoiberg said Thursday at a gathering that marked
the 20th anniversary of Wolves basketball in Minnesota. "He’ll miss two
weeks and we’ll be careful with it and make sure he’s 100 percent
before he starts going again.”
knee like he did,” Hoiberg said Thursday at a gathering that marked
the 20th anniversary of Wolves basketball in Minnesota. "He’ll miss two
weeks and we’ll be careful with it and make sure he’s 100 percent
before he starts going again.”
From CBC Sports:
Jefferson is scheduled for re-evaluation in two weeks and then eased
back onto the court slowly if everything goes according to schedule.
back onto the court slowly if everything goes according to schedule.
Hoiberg said trainers already have noticed increased mobility in
Jefferson’s knee since the injury. If the big man is slower to heal
however, Hoiberg remains confident that the rest of his young club can
stick together through the adversity.
Jefferson’s knee since the injury. If the big man is slower to heal
however, Hoiberg remains confident that the rest of his young club can
stick together through the adversity.
"These guys have been together for over a month now working together,"
Hoiberg said. "I don’t think it’ll affect us too much. He’ll be back
for the last couple weeks of training camp and should be 100 per cent
and ready to go on opening night."
Hoiberg said. "I don’t think it’ll affect us too much. He’ll be back
for the last couple weeks of training camp and should be 100 per cent
and ready to go on opening night."
From Matt Moore/Fanhouse:
It’s a minor injury though, and the young star should be back to full strength before the season starts, unlike some people who will remain nameless but who’s name is synonymous with a Japanese grill. And with Mike Miller an upgrade at shooting guard, Kevin Love and the outlet pass of doom, Randy Foye back to full strength, and the rest of the youngsters with another year together, there’s no room to think the Wolves will regress from, if not exceed last year’s win total. Still, it’s not the way you want to start a year.
If you are curious, the Wolves still have plenty of players on their roster who can supposedly play center: Mark Madsen, Calvin Booth, rookie Kevin Love, and Craig Smith. Booth is the tallest of that group at 6-11; however, if I’m Minny I’m hoping Jefferson only needs three weeks because I don’t want to roll with that in the middle for too long.
Last season Jefferson (only a 6-10 center, if you are curious) led the Wolves in scoring (21.0), rebounding (11.1) and blocks (1.45) while also shooting 50% from the field and grabbing a steal a night. It’s also worth noting that with Jefferson in the lineup the Wolves were outscored by 6.8 points a game and outrebounded, so they need him healthy as soon as possible.