Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives into Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 10, 2016 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury that requires surgery, his team said Friday.
A statement said Okafor, 20, will be sidelined for up to six weeks — meaning his season is over with the Sixers long since eliminated from playoff contention with only eight wins in 64 matches.
“Jahlil recently started to experience discomfort in his right knee, which we immediately investigated. After a comprehensive series of tests and additional evaluation by our medical team, it was revealed that he has a small tear of the meniscus,” Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie said in a statement.
“Jahlil will undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure to address the injury … we anticipate he will resume full basketball activities in approximately six weeks.”
Okafor, the third overall draft pick in 2015, has averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game in 53 matches for the Sixers this season.