FC Barcelona Bàsquet and D’Tigers forward Chimezie Metu is set to miss up to eight weeks of action following a grade 2 knee injury sustained during the team’s 102-99 victory over Valencia Basket in a Liga ACB match on Sunday night.
The club confirmed the diagnosis in a statement released Monday: “Tests have confirmed that player Chimezie Metu has suffered a grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament of his left knee. Conservative treatment will follow, with an approximate recovery time of between 6 and 8 weeks.”
Bold SportsNG reported that Metu was injured early in the second quarter of the win when Valencia’s Nate Reuvers landed on his left knee during a rebound contest. The 27-year-old exited the game in visible pain and did not return.
The former Phoenix Suns player is expected to miss all 13 remaining Liga ACB regular-season games, as well as several Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fixtures.
Metu had made an impressive start to his European career, averaging 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and a 7.2 valuation in the EuroLeague, alongside 11.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and an 11.8 valuation in the Liga ACB.
His injury follows the loss of teammate Nico Laprovittola, who is also sidelined long-term after a recent Endesa League game against Baskonia.
A 49th overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. Metu played six seasons in the NBA representing the San Antonio Spurs, The Sacramento Kings, the Phoenix Suns and also had a short stint with the Detroit Pistons.
