Portland's Festus Ezeli to undergo rare surgery, receive donation from cadaver
Former Golden State Warriors big man Festus Ezeli hasn't played since the 2016 NBA Finals, and he won't play a single minute for the Portland Trail Blazers this season after signing a two-year, $15.2 million deal with the Trail Blazers last summer.
Ezeli, who had arthroscopic knee surgery 13 months ago, received a bone marrow aspirate injection in August that kept him out for the start of the season, and complications in his recovery ruled him out indefinitely. The Blazers announced that Ezeli will now undergo a season-ending procedure - which, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes, has been months in the making.
https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/838203090729852932
Ezeli wouldn't be the first athlete to receive a donation from a cadaver, but the timeline for his recovery is unknown.
Via ESPN:
"Ezeli has sought a donor for months, sources said, but because of his 6-foot-11 stature, finding a matching donor was problematic.
.... Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is the most notable recent athlete to have had such a procedure. While with the Cincinnati Bengals, Palmer tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during a 2006 playoff game. It was considered a possibly career-threatening injury."
-
NBA Champions by Year: Complete list of NBA Finals winners
Bucks' Damian Lillard has MRI on Achilles, could miss Game 4 vs. Pacers
Anthony Edwards scores 36 points, puts T-Wolves on brink of sweep of Suns
-
2024 NBA Playoff Schedule: How to watch NBA Finals, TV, streaming, free
Celtics take 2-1 lead in series vs. Heat with wire-to-wire win in Miami
Lakers force Game 5 in Denver with 119-108 win over Nuggets at home
-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll to 3-0 series lead with 106-85 win over the Pelicans
Which NBA teams have never won a championship?
2024 Bronny James NBA Draft odds: Lakers aiming to pair LeBron-Bronny?
-
NBA Champions by Year: Complete list of NBA Finals winners
Bucks' Damian Lillard has MRI on Achilles, could miss Game 4 vs. Pacers
Anthony Edwards scores 36 points, puts T-Wolves on brink of sweep of Suns
-
2024 NBA Playoff Schedule: How to watch NBA Finals, TV, streaming, free
Celtics take 2-1 lead in series vs. Heat with wire-to-wire win in Miami
Lakers force Game 5 in Denver with 119-108 win over Nuggets at home
-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll to 3-0 series lead with 106-85 win over the Pelicans
Which NBA teams have never won a championship?
2024 Bronny James NBA Draft odds: Lakers aiming to pair LeBron-Bronny?