Mark Cuban: Kristaps Porzingis Likely to Miss Entire Season with ACL Injury

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorFebruary 1, 2019

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 06: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on February 6, 2018 in New York City. The Bucks defeated the Knicks 103-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Friday that forward Kristaps Porzingis likely won't see the court during the 2018-19 NBA campaign, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN:

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Kristaps Porzingis probably will not play for the Mavericks this season as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered a year ago, Dallas owner Mark Cuban told ESPN.

Porzingis, who was traded from the New York Knicks to the Mavericks on Thursday, suffered a torn ACL on February 6, 2018, which forced him to miss the rest of the 2017-18 season.

That injury curtailed a promising start to his career. The big man averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Knicks in his 2015-16 rookie season, and by Year 3, he was the Knicks' primary scorer with Carmelo Anthony's departure to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Porzingis posted a career-high 22.7 points per game and drilled 39.5 percent of his threes last year before suffering the season-ending ailment. He was a vital defensive asset as well, thanks to his 2.4 blocks per contest. In his last full season (2016-17), he ranked 15th among all qualified power forwards in defensive real plus-minus, per ESPN.

The 7'3" Latvian is also one of the game's most entertaining players. Hopefully, he can come back and enjoy a sustained period of good health.

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