Kings forward Chimezie Metu will be sidelined for several weeks after breaking his wrist on what coach Luke Walton called a “dangerous play” by Jonas Valanciunas in Sunday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources told The Sacramento Bee.
More on Chimezie Metu Injury
Walton said Metu was “fine” before Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, but Metu continued to experience soreness after going through pregame warmups. An X-ray examination after the game revealed a right wrist fracture, sources told The Bee. A timeline for Metu’s return will be determined after he is examined by a hand specialist.
Walton said Kings general manager Monte McNair discussed the incident with league officials Monday, but Walton had not been briefed on those talks. The league has not announced any additional discipline against Valanciunas.
After an examination Saturday, the Spurs medical staff downgraded second-round pick Chimezie Metu’s left wrist injury from a sprain to a fracture, a league source said Saturday.
The Spurs medical staff confirmed Saturday that second-round draft pick Chimezie Metu fractured his left wrist during action at the Las Vegas Summer League, a league source said. Metu was injured late in the Spurs' 95-90 win over Washington on Sunday, when he landed awkwardly after leaping to catch a lob pass at the rim.
After undergoing X-rays on Sunday at UNLV, Metu was diagnosed with a wrist sprain. But Spurs team doctors suspected a possible fracture and an examination on Saturday after Metu returned from Las Vegas confirmed it. Metu has been fitted with a cast. The injury is not considered serious.
Tom Orsborn: #Spurs medical staff will examine Chimezie Metu's sprained left wrist for a possible fracture after he returns to San Antonio on Saturday.
Paul Garcia: The Spurs have announced Derrick White, Lonnie Walker IV, and Chimezie Metu are all OUT today for the Spurs’ last SL game due to injury.
When the team resumes tournament play Thursday against Milwaukee, Metu will be in street clothes. “It sucks,” said Metu, the high-energy center the Spurs selected 49th overall out of USC in June. “I can go play right now. They said it might be fractured, but honestly it feels perfectly fine.”
Metu said he understands the Spurs’ caution but is frustrated by what he views as a missed opportunity. “I’m kind of bummed,” Metu said. “They’re being cautious for good reasons. I trust them. At the same time, I feel like there’s a lot more I could go out there and show.”
