Denzel Valentine Injury: Updates on Bulls Guard's Ankle and Return

Chicago Bulls rookie guard Denzel Valentine left a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday after suffering a sprained ankle.

It is currently unclear exactly when he'll return to the court. 

Continue for updates.

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Latest on Valentine's Playing Status 

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Valentine will miss two weeks with the injury, per Steve Aschburner of NBA.com.

On Monday, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported that Valentine's sprain is considered mild.

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Bulls Have Enough Depth to Survive Valentine Injury

Valentine had four points and two assists in 11 minutes before coming out of the game on Monday.

Chicago selected the versatile guard with the 14th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. While the signings of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo meant there wasn't a ton of pressure on Valentine to come in and be a star immediately, his all-around skill set is something Chicago has lacked in recent years.

Valentine averaged a remarkable 19.2 points, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game while hitting 44.4 percent of his three-point attempts during his senior campaign at Michigan State.

Although those numbers could have landed him inside the top 10, he slipped to the end of the lottery in part because of concerns about his knees.

Reports surfaced regarding cartilage damage in both of Valentine's knees, per NBADraft.net, which meant Chicago took a significant risk by spending a first-round pick on him.

While Valentine's potential absence could be detrimental to the Bulls' rotation, they have enough options to get by without having him rush back.

Wade and Rondo form a solid starting backcourt, and Jerian Grant is capable of filling in at either guard spot. Jimmy Butler is a versatile player, much like Valentine, so his presence in the lineup should soften the blow.

Valentine's injury could slow his progression, but ensuring that he is healthy before returning is of the utmost importance because of his injury history.

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