The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Wednesday that third-year forward Aleksej Pokusevski sustained a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in his left leg and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks.
Pokusevski, who turned 21 years old on Monday, suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Tuesday’s win against the San Antonio Spurs.
Pokusevski immediately called for a substitution and needed help exiting the court.
This is a major bummer for both Pokusevski and the Thunder. After two seasons of development, Pokusevski started hitting his stride as an NBA player and was having his best season as a pro.
Given the announced timeline, the earliest Pokusevski could return is mid-February, and a March/April return is more likely.
In 31 games, Pokusevski is averaging 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 blocks. The 21-year-old will be eligible for a rookie extension this summer.
