Suns’ Frank Kaminsky has procedure on right knee, out at least 8 weeks
Jan 7, 2022, 5:58 PM
Jalen Smith #10, Frank Kaminsky #8 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watch from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Boston Celtics at Footprint Center on December 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns center Frank Kaminsky had a procedure done on his right knee Thursday and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks, the team announced Friday.
Kaminsky, 28, has not played for Phoenix since Nov. 15. Six days after his last appearance, the team listed him with a stress reaction in his right knee and he was ruled out indefinitely.
When the Suns’ Deandre Ayton missed a handful of games early in the season, Kaminsky stepped into the rotation and played terrific basketball. That included a career-high 31-point performance in a Nov. 10 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Across nine games, Kaminsky is averaging a career-best 4.6 rebounds per game and his 10.6 points per outing is his highest since the 2017-18 season.
With center Dario Saric having not played since Game 1 of the NBA Finals due to a torn ACL, the Suns added veteran center JaVale McGee in free agency and also brought back Kaminsky. But when Ayton and McGee both landed in health and safety protocols just before the new year, that left Phoenix with four centers out.
With a shorthanded roster, the Suns started second-year big Jalen Smith and signed veteran Bismack Biyombo to play as his backup. Both played well in those roles, and will now assumingly go back to reserve spots, with Ayton and McGee set to return for Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat.
Saturday’s game in Phoenix against Miami is a 7 p.m. tip-off you can hear on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
