Kevin Huerter shares injury timetable, expectations for next season

Apr 23, 2024, 11:11 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

It was an abrupt ending to the 2023-24 season for Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter, who injured his left shoulder on March 18th.

Huerter, Sacramento’s starting shooting guard since being acquired in the 2022 offseason, suffered a left shoulder dislocation and torn labrum after taking contact from Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane at Golden 1 Center. Once the guard exited the game, there was a sense that the injury was serious–a notion that was confirmed in postgame imaging.

With Huerter and Sixth Man of the Year finalist Malik Monk (MCL sprain) sidelined for the final weeks of the season, the Kings struggled to string together consistent stretches of winning basketball as they fell into the Play-In, where they lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in the eighth-seeded game.

On Monday, Huerter reflected on his shortened season and shared expectations for 2024-25.

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Huerter, who took the stage on Monday sporting a sling on his left shoulder, expects to get back on the floor in the coming weeks as he continues his rehab.

“I still have about four more weeks in the sling,” Huerter said. “[Doctors] said 12 weeks out from surgery was start shooting, doing on-court stuff. I’m already kind of ahead of schedule a little bit. So, you know, we’re hoping August is [full] contact. Should be on pace for training camp in [September], so a couple more weeks.”

It was a tough season for Huerter in 2023-24 after posting career-highs across the board in 2022-23.

Huerter, who averaged 15.2 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from three last season, finished the year averaging 10.2 points on 44/36/76 shooting splits.

“I probably had my best year as a pro last year, so then this was probably my worst year as a pro this year. So, I think in a lot of ways, they balance out, and if you look at it like that, hey, next year we should be back,” Huerter said with a smile.

“You know, I’m optimistic about getting through this summer, through this injury. I’ll be in the weight room a lot, which I think is always fun going into an offseason. Next year, I think I’m looking at it really positively, and think it will all be back.”

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