2 min read • February 23, 2022
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With Jusuf Nurkic out at least the next four weeks with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the competitive part of Portland's season appears to be over.
The team announced the 27-year-old big man would be re-evaluated in four weeks, but had been playing through symptoms of plantar fasciitis since September.
The Trail Blazers have played a majority of the season without star shooting guard Damian Lillard and entered the All-Star break with a record of 25-34, 10th place in the Western Conference.
If the team wanted Nurkic back for a late season playoff push, plantar fascia release surgery typically carries a recovery timeline of six weeks.
That does not seem to be the case or Nurkic likely would have had the surgery before the All-Star break.
The ProBasketballDocs expect Nurkic to be shut down for the season when he is re-evaluated in late March.
After March 23, the Trail Blazers will have 10 regular season games remaining.
At this point it seems Portland is focused on next season and furthering the development of breakout 22-year-old shooting guard Anfernee Simons.
In 53 games this season, Simons has averaged 17 points, 3.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the field and 40% from three.
Despite playing through the injury, Nurkic has been a workhorse for Portland this season. He has made 56 starts and recorded 30 double-doubles, which ranks eighth in the NBA.
He is averaging 15 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals this season.
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