Dallas — The Utah Jazz reported that forward Taylor Hendricks left Monday’s 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks with a fractured right fibula and a dislocated ankle.
Hendricks will return to Utah with the team for additional testing Tuesday, Jazz coach Will Hardy announced after the game.
According to ESPN sources, Hendricks, 20, is anticipated to miss the rest of the season.
“That’s hard to stomach,” Hardy said of Hendricks’ injury. “He’s worked so hard. He’s a lovely child, so we’re really just focusing on him, his health, and keeping his spirits up as he begins his comeback. But these are the worst times in athletics.”
With 5:59 left in the third quarter, Hendricks collapsed suddenly and without contact. His lower right leg was brutally turned to the outside.
Medical staff promptly brought a stretcher to the court. When Hendricks left the American Airlines Center after the game, he was wearing a protective boot on his right foot and walking with crutches.
Following the game, the Jazz said that further information on Hendricks’ status will be provided “when appropriate.”
The 6-foot-9 Hendricks, the ninth pick in the 2023 draft, is a key component of the Jazz’s rebuilding efforts. He is a standout defender who was assigned to Dallas sensation Luka Doncic on Monday night.
As a rookie, Hendricks averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. He got into the starting lineup on a regular basis this season after trying to become substantially stronger during the summer.
“This is far from over for him,” Hardy explained. “This is the pause button for Taylor. Even in the early stages of the season, you can see the results of his efforts. You can see the flashes and where this could lead him, and that’s a tribute to him.”
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