Sacramento Kings provide update on Kevin Huerter’s recovery from season-ending injury
Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter is ready to resume basketball activities but will likely miss the start of training camp after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.
The Kings provided a medical update on Huerter’s recovery Friday with training camp set to begin Oct. 1. The team said Huerter has been cleared for on-court workouts, shooting drills and a complete strength training program. He will be reevaluated in mid-October before being cleared for full-contact activity.
Huerter missed the last 15 games of the 2023-24 regular season and two play-in games after suffering a dislocated left shoulder and torn labrum in a March 18 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He sustained the injury when he was fouled by Desmond Bane while going up for a layup attempt.
Huerter went down under the basket and remained down for several minutes while receiving attention from the team’s medical staff. Huerter was eventually helped to his feet and led to the locker room for further evaluation and treatment.
Huerter, who has two years remaining on a four-year, $65 million contract, was still wearing a sling three days after Sacramento’s season ended with a 105-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in a play-in elimination game. At the time, Huerter said he hoped to be cleared for full-contact activity in August and expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Huerter came out of Maryland as the No. 19 pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He spent five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before the Kings acquired him in a trade in the summer of 2022. Huerter quickly became a fan favorite in his first season in Sacramento, averaging a career-high 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting career bests of 48.5% from the field and 40.2% from 3-point range.
Huerter had a big hand in Sacramento’s success as the Kings led the league in scoring, set a record with the highest offensive rating in NBA history and finished third in the Western Conference to end a 16-year playoff drought. Huerter’s shooting helped the Kings create the floor spacing needed for the All-NBA duo of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis to orchestrate an offense that scored 120.7 points per game, the highest average since the 1983-84 Denver Nuggets.
Huerter was not as effective in his second season in Sacramento with his scoring and efficiency dropping dramatically. He averaged 10.2 points — the lowest mark since his rookie year — while shooting a career-low 36.1% from 3-point range.
“I probably had my best year as a pro last year and then this was probably my worst year as a pro this year,” Huerter said following the season. “... I’m optimistic about getting through this summer, through this injury. I’ll be in the weight room a lot, which I think is always fun going into the offseason, and next year I’m thinking about it really positively and thinking I’ll be back.”
This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 4:10 PM.
