R.J. Hampton will reportedly miss 4-6 weeks for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League with a hip injury, according to Josh Price of Newstalk ZB.
Hampton did not play with the Breakers on Monday against the Brisbane Bullets due to the injury and could miss as many as nine games, depending on when he can return.
It is unclear when Hampton initially suffered the injury but the 18-year-old last played on Dec. 6 against the Cairns Taipans when he recorded four points in 16 minutes of work.
In 12 games this season, Hampton is averaging 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals with the Breakers, while he is shooting 42% from the field and 32% from 3-point range.
.@RjHampton14 has just told me he will be out for 4-6 weeks with a hip injury. He missed the @NZBreakers game with the injury.
— Josh Price (@Pricejosh34) December 11, 2019
The news of the injury comes just two days after it was announced that fellow American LaMelo Ball will miss four weeks after suffering a foot injury with the Illawarra Hawks. Ball apparently injured his foot last week in practice and is expected to make a full recovery.
Hampton is considered to be a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He bypassed the option of playing in college in order to begin his professional career early and he has impressed during his short stay so far in the NBL.
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