Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic is set to miss the entire 2016-17 NBA season. The big man out of Montenegro is said to be suffering from recurring ankle pain. The Timberwolves have yet to announce when they expect Pekovic to be healthy.
Timberwolves Center Nikola Pekovic Out for Season
Pekovic, 30, played in just 12 games last season. The Montenegrin center averaged 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds. Pekovic has played just 43 games combined in the last two seasons. Injuries are clearly an issue for Pekovic, and they have been ever since the big man signed a $60 million deal in 2013. Remember, Pekovic hasn’t actually gotten a new injury. He has, in fact, failed to recover from one. Pekovic’s latest ailment could be worse than originally feared.
Some reports are saying that Pekovic’s ankle injury could be career threatening. Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press noted last week that it would be unlikely for the center to ever play again. That’s news that new T-Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau will not want to hear.
Thibodeau had this to say when he spoke to Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune: “We were hopeful he would respond well. There have been some good days, but there have been a lot of setbacks as well.”
Thibodeau and the Timberwolves appear to have prepared well for the Pekovic loss this off-season. The team signed centers Cole Aldrich and Jordan Hill during the summer. Big man Gorgui Dieng is heading into his fourth season and star center Karl-Anthony Towns is heading into his sophomore year in the NBA.
The Pekovic injury is the second big bit of news for Timberwolves fans this week. Earlier in the week, 15-time All-Star Kevin Garnett announced his retirement from the game of basketball.
Pekovic has played six seasons in Minnesota, after being selected 31st overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.
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