Kyrie Irving, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered a fractured hand Saturday and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal.
“I’m a little disappointed for a freak accident like that,” Irving told the paper. “I have to be more responsible about my health. It was crazy. It happened so fast. That thing I did, hitting the padding on the wall, I’ve done it so many times. This time it was just a freak accident.”
The Cavaliers released a statement saying that Irving, the former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick and Duke star, “experienced a right hand fracture during today’s morning practice after slapping the padding on the wall at the practice site.
“X-rays taken in Las Vegas at Spring Valley Hospital confirmed the fracture. He will return to Cleveland and be evaluated Sunday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker and Dr. Thomas Graham. His preliminary projection is to be ready for the start of training camp in late September, but his official status and timeline for return to play will be updated following his exam in Cleveland.”
This is Irving’s second injury in the last three years. He suffered a toe injury during his only season at Duke and played only 11 games for the Blue Devils as a freshman before entering the 2011 NBA Draft and being selected as the No. 1 overall pick.
Irving made news recently when he and Lakers star Kobe Bryant bet $50,000 on a hypothetical one-on-one game.
Now it looks like Irving will have to wait about two months to take on Kobe.
Photo: Getty Images
