Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, sources instructed ESPN on Tuesday.
He suffered the damage throughout Monday’s victory in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets. As Smith dribbled throughout a possession early within the second quarter, he misplaced the ball on a turnover and instantly fell to the court docket grimacing in ache.
Smith was escorted off the court docket to the locker room.
The damage, which requires surgical procedure and months of rehabilitation, is devastating after the two-way guard made an incredible restoration from a torn ACL simply over a yr in the past to the Heat’s rotation and was on the cusp of an ordinary NBA contract.
Smith additionally noticed his 2021-22 season with Miami’s Sioux Falls affiliate within the G League lower brief by a knee damage.
“We have unbelievable deep respect for his journey and what he has to beat,” coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned after Monday’s sport. “I’ve been within the constructing all these instances final yr when no person else was right here and he was doing all of the intensive remedy and rehab around the clock. He has unbelievable fortitude. You find yourself completely rooting for guys like Dru.”
Smith, who turns 27 on Monday, was averaging profession highs of 6.3 factors and a pair of.6 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per sport this season. He has been waived and re-signed by the Heat 4 instances in his three-year profession.
The Heat are changing two-way ahead Keshad Johnson on an ordinary two-year NBA contract, sources instructed ESPN. Johnson has spent the season as a standout participant for Heat’s G League affiliate, Sioux Falls, averaging 21.2 factors and eight.3 rebounds per sport.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
