NEW YORK – Forward of Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Miami Warmth, the group introduced that the Brooklyn Nets guard will endure end-of-season surgical procedure on his left ankle.
Harris underwent preliminary surgical procedure on his ankle on November 29 and was solely anticipated to be out in 4 to eight weeks, however his ankle has by no means healed to the purpose the place he can return to the bottom feeling snug.
“Though Joe has labored laborious over the previous a number of months to rehabilitate his ankle and has exhausted each avenue doable in an effort to get again on the sphere along with his teammates, it has been decided that he’ll want extra arthroscopic surgical procedure within the coming weeks,” Nets GM Sean Marks mentioned in a press release. . “Whereas Joe is anticipated to make a full restoration after the process, this can sadly lead to him lacking out on the rest of the common season and play-off matches.
“We all know how disenchanted Joe is to lose this prolonged tour, however he stays an enormous a part of our identification as a company, and whereas he will be unable to contribute on the sphere, his presence and positivity across the group will proceed to be felt by all.”
Harris has been attempting to delve into numerous rehab work over the previous few weeks to get again on the bottom, however Nets coach Steve Nash has repeatedly mentioned that Harris hasn’t been capable of progress to some extent the place he has been capable of be part of the Nets in formal coaching.
“He is only a core teammate,” Marks mentioned in an interview with YES Community earlier than the sport. “It is what defines the Brooklyn Community… We freak out for Joe and everyone knows how a lot he means to this group.”
The Harris information comes as nightclub star Kevin Durant returns to Earth after lacking a month and a half on account of a sprained MCL in his left knee. Marks additionally mentioned through the interview that new substitute Ben Simmons continues to be out with a again downside. Simmons’ return to Earth stays unclear. He hasn’t performed since final Could after requesting a deal from the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer season.
“Sadly, the stiffness in his again delayed his capacity to enter the sphere along with his teammates,” Marks mentioned. “So he is been rehabilitating that final form of week into 10 days, and now he’ll progress by this week with some particular person work; hopefully by the top of subsequent week, he is extra concerned within the group surroundings. After which we will actually scale up and begin to get form of in form. sport and so forth.
“Though there isn’t a actual timetable, we now have to take it day in and time out and see how he responds. Hopefully it is going to be higher sooner; we have to get this group collectively and get minutes on the sphere.”
