According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN, San Antonio Spurs big man Charles Bassey tore his ACL while playing with the Austin Spurs in the G League on Sunday. Bassey has split his time between the G League and the NBA for the majority of the season but will now miss the remainder of the year.
In 19 games with the Spurs (NBA), Bassey played 11.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 72.5% from the field. He was playing backup center minutes behind Zach Collins this year alongside Sandro Mamukelashvili, but now, opportunities could arise for others to take on that role.
Spurs say center Charles Bassey tore the ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Bassey averaged 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 19 games this season while shooting 72.5% from the floor.
Bassey tore his ACL playing with the Austin Spurs on Sunday.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) December 12, 2023
Bassey is under contract for two more years after this one with the Spurs, but neither of his next two seasons are non-guaranteed.
The 23-year-old center was a nice big-bodied presence next to Victor Wembanyama, as the Spurs prefer to play the rookie sensation at the power forward position.
It seems unlikely that the Spurs bring anyone else in to fill Bassey’s spot, as he signed a four-year with the team not too long ago, and they seem to like him as a piece on their roster.
Instead, expect guys like Mamukelashvili and Dominick Barlow to step into bigger roles behind Collins, who has been solid for the Spurs at the center spot this summer.
Bassey will now begin the rehabilitation process, likely in hopes of making his return to action by next season.
Meanwhile, the Spurs will now have to deal with his injury amid their 17-game losing streak.
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