Report: Serge Ibaka to Undergo Knee Procedure (UPDATE)

As if the Thunder needed more injuries, right? After losing both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant for long stints this season (KD is still out), Oklahoma City will now be without Serge Ibaka for a yet-to-be-determined length of time.

According to a report from ESPN.com’s Royce Young, Ibaka needs to have his sore knee operated on. It’s being called a “clean-out procedure” to fix his ailing sore knee, and the team hasn’t set a time table for his return just yet. So far this season, the 25-year-old big man is averaging 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

More details:

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka will undergo a knee procedure to address some persistent soreness, sources told ESPN.com.

 

It is not clear how long Ibaka will be sidelined following the surgery.

 

Ibaka has missed the Thunder’s past two games with what the team has called knee soreness. He will see a specialist for further evaluation, with the expectation for him to have a clean-out procedure in order to be ready for the postseason.

 

The Thunder have not confirmed that Ibaka will undergo the surgery, saying in a statement Monday that they have sent him to a specialist.

 

“As we continue to monitor and evaluate the soreness in Serge’s knee, in consultation with his representation, we decided the next best step is to have him travel to New York to see a specialist,” a team spokesman said. “We will provide an update as appropriate.”

UPDATE (Tuesday, 4:35 p.m.): The Thunder have announced that Ibaka had successful surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks while recovering. At four weeks, Ibaka would miss the entire remainder of the regular season. From the team: