Nuggets’ Juancho Hernangomez undergoes core muscle surgery

Denver Nuggets forward Juan Hernangomez, left, hugs Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum after Game 7 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado— The Denver Nuggets say forward Juancho Hernangomez underwent surgery to fix a core muscle injury.

The procedure was performed Thursday by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia. There was no timetable given for Hernangomez’s return.

Hernangomez averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds during the 2018-19 regular season. He played sparingly in the postseason before the Nuggets were eliminated in Game 7 of the second round by Portland.

The 23-year-old Hernangomez said after the season that he was hoping to possibly suit up for Spain at the FIBA World Cup in China later this summer.

Hernangomez was drafted by Denver with the 15th overall pick in 2016.