The Spurs received some very bad news on Monday, as an MRI on Dejounte Murray‘s injured right knee revealed a torn ACL, the team announced in a press release. According to the club, a timeline for Murray’s return will be determined at a later date. However, he seems likely to miss the 2018/19 season, as head coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged today (Twitter link via Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News).
The injury, which occurred during Sunday’s preseason game against the Rockets, is a massive blow for the Spurs. The 22-year-old took over point guard starting duties from Tony Parker last season, and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team. With Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard no longer members of the Spurs, Murray was being counted on to play a key role at both ends of the court for San Antonio in 2018/19.
[RELATED: The Impact Of A Torn ACL On An NBA Player]
With Murray sidelined, the Spurs figure to lean more heavily on Patty Mills and Derrick White at the point. DeMar DeRozan also figures to assume some ball-handling duties on offense, but none of those players will provide the sort of elite perimeter defense that Murray did.
It has been a rough month so far for the Spurs, who announced over the weekend that first-round pick Lonnie Walker sustained a right medial meniscus tear. Walker, who was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair that injury today, is expected to miss approximately six to eight weeks.
With upwards of a dozen Western Conference teams set to compete for playoff spots in 2018/19, the Spurs have little margin for error as they look to extend their 21-year postseason streak. Murray’s absence will make it even more challenging to secure a top-eight spot in the West.
I’m going to go cry now
Seems likely is an understatement. He will definitely miss the season.
Haha YES!!! F the Spurs.
-Salty Suns Fan
All just for playing a stupid preseason game, Spurs just went from a possible top 4 seed to an 8th seed at best.
Daaaaaaaammmmnnnnn…that’s a really big deal. Definitely changes their defense, which already took a couple of hits. They’re going to need a lot from Derrick White this year. Should be interesting to see if they grab a defensive minded combo guard to try and fill in.
Definitely changes my training camp western conference, and over/under, predictions. Injuries are definitely a big deal this year with so many teams in similar positions, and all of the close games that will likely decide seeding
I am projecting with Derrick White, but with him & Mills also at the 1, they are not that bad off. The 3 is still the weak spot, star-wise. Depth would be good but one must start.
I was thinking Murray and White could play together. I agree about White though. He reminds me a lot of Manu Ginobli/Harden without the gimmicks
Obviously not saying he is them at the moment, but he has a lot of them in his game
Ok, now I believe that they won’t make the playoffs. I’m hoping for a speedy recovery, sucks to see a young guy go down with such a serious injury.