ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova returned to practice Monday for the first time since suffering a nasal fracture in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 2.
Ilyasova will take part in the team's shootaround Tuesday before determining if he plays when the Bucks host the Charlotte Hornets later that night, but the team lists him as probable.
"He went the whole practice and looked good," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow.
"He won't start, but we'll see if he can play. If he can go, hopefully we'll get some minutes for him."
Ilyasova was injured Dec. 2 in Cleveland when he caught an inadvertent elbow from Tristan Thompson while battling for a rebound. A CT scan the following day revealed a nasal fracture that later required surgery.
He will wear a protective mask for the near future, something he has had to do multiple times throughout his international and NBA career. Ilyasova last wore a mask in December of 2012 when he suffered a nasal contusion.
Ilyasova has struggled to find a comfort level wearing a protective mask in the past, but said this mask is a bit different than the ones he has previously worn.
"It is not really comfortable, but it is what it is," Ilyasova said. "You have to go through with it. I have to deal with it.
"Basketball is a quick game. It is a limitation on my vision, but I have to do my best. It is all about protecting my nose if a hit would come again."
Ilyasova was playing well before he went down, averaging 15.8 points and shooting 56.0 percent from the field in the eight games prior to the game in which he was injured.
His return will help boost Milwaukee's shorthanded frontcourt, as the Bucks have been playing without Ilyasova, Jabari Parker and John Henson of late.
"It is big," Kidd said of Ilyasova's return. "He was playing at a very high level for us before the injury. Hopefully we can get him back there as quick as possible. He's in shape. He was moving well, shooting the ball well. He was playing (at practice) as if he hadn't been hurt."
With the rash of injuries to the power forward position, rookie Johnny O'Bryant started Milwaukee's last two games despite returning from a sprained right MCL just three games ago. Kidd wouldn't commit to O'Bryant starting against the Hornets, but also was strong in his stance that Ilyasova won't immediately return to the starting lineup.
But with Parker out for the remainder of the season, it only seems like a matter of time before Ilyasova is back in the starting five.
"I've always gone back and forth," Ilyasova said. "It has never been important whether I start of not, but it is about the minutes you receive. When you are in the game you have to contribute and do your best."
While Ilyasova is probable for Tuesday's game against the Hornets, Henson is listed as questionable. Henson was scheduled to see the doctor in Milwaukee on Monday after experiencing pain in his left foot during a workout in Los Angeles on Friday.
The 23-year-old suffered a left foot sprain Nov. 25 and has missed Milwaukee's last 13 games.
Parker visits: The Bucks were back in town for the first time in over a week Monday, meaning it was the first chance players and coaches had to see Parker since the rookie was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee last Tuesday.
Parker was at the team's training facility to visit with teammates Monday, something Kidd hopes becomes a frequent occurrence while the 19-year-old rehabs his injury.
"He'll still be around," Kidd said. "We need to make sure he's still a part of the team. An injury like that, sometimes you get isolated. We want to make sure that doesn't happen."
No details have been set for Parker's surgery, according to Kidd.
Special guest: Former Bucks coach George Karl dropped by the Cousins Center on Monday and spent time chatting with Kidd and several members of the coaching staff following practice.
Karl, who coached the Bucks from 1998-2003, currently serves as an NBA analyst for ESPN. His name has recently surfaced as a potential coaching candidate in Sacramento.
"Defense and depth," Karl said of what he sees in this year's Bucks. "They play every position at a pretty high level defensively. Their length creates a lot of nightmares. They can compensate mistakes because of their agility and their length.
"I think they are unselfish offensively. I don't think they are very polished there, but they find the hot guy and find him enough to win games."
Karl also responded to a reporter who told him Clippers coach Doc Rivers compared the Bucks to last year's Phoenix Suns as the league's surprise team.
"I don't think you want to overreact to the first 25 games," Karl said. "The first time through an NBA season is kind of easier than the second and third times through. I think teams will try to kind of figure them out a little bit. But being in the East, they have a lot of games where they can gain confidence. So much of this game is growth and confidence and commitment to young players. They were hurt by the Parker injury, but in the same sense, there's an opportunity for this team to grow up really fast."
At 14-14, Milwaukee currently sits as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and holds down a spot in the playoffs by 2 ½ games.
"I think they are going to be a playoff team," Karl said. "I'm pretty convinced that they are a playoff team. The East is getting better though. I think it would be hard for me to predict they are going to win a playoff series, but getting this team to the playoffs and having a competitive round would be very good for growth."
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