Suns forward P.J. Tucker out 6-8 weeks after back surgery
Sep 15, 2016, 5:05 PM
Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker reacts after getting fouled against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Grizzlies 111-106. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Phoenix Suns announced that forward P.J. Tucker will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing back surgery Thursday.
Tucker underwent a successful lower back microdiscectomy procedure performed by Dr. Dennis Crandall.
The timeline for his recovery will impact his participation in training camp and potentially the regular season. Phoenix will hold media day next week before heading to Flagstaff, Ariz., for training camp from Sept. 27 through Oct. 1.
On the short-end of Tucker’s recovery timeline, he would miss the entire preseason schedule but by returning a day short of exactly six weeks from his surgery could play in the 2016-17 season-opener on Oct. 26 against the Sacramento Kings.
A recovery of eight weeks would set a return for Nov. 10, which would cause him to miss nine games before a Nov. 12 outing at home against the Brooklyn Nets.
Tucker averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 boards, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals while appearing in all 82 regular season games in 2015-16.
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