Jason Richardson: Sixers G Will Reportedly Miss Rest of Season with Knee Surgery

The Philadelphia 76ers received the news they did not want to hear regarding Jason Richardson’s knee injury. The shooting guard will miss the rest of the season.

Yahoo! Sports’ Marc. J. Spears reported the news via Twitter:

"

Sixers guard Jason Richardson will miss the rest of the season after having left knee surgery next week, a source told Y! Sports.

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) February 7, 2013"

Richardson has struggled with pain in his left knee over the past month and has not played since January 18.

As Sports Illustrated reports, the 32-year-old vet will likely need between six and nine months to recover following surgery. Richardson was averaging 10.5 points and 28.4 minutes through 33 contests this season, his first year in Philadelphia.

Richardson and injured center Andrew Bynum were the two players the 76ers received when they gave up Andre Iguodala as part of the trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richardson started at shooting guard in every game that he played in this season, and Nick Young will likely receive an elevated role in his absence. Young is averaging 11.3 points per game in 25.0 minutes of action. 

With both of the players that the Sixers received in this summer’s blockbuster deal out of commission, the outlook for Philadelphia’s season just got bleaker.

After clinching the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot last year, the team is in danger of missing out on the postseason.

There are more rumblings about a possible return for Bynum, per NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, and now the center’s health appears to be even more vital to the Sixers’ hopes for a successful season. 

While Richardson's injury is certainly a setback, the 76ers still have a replacement and can hang onto the hope that Bynum's presence will make a massive difference.