The Portland Trail Blazers' already thin frontline took a hit on Monday, as the team announced that Zach Collins will be sidelined for months for a labral repair in his left shoulder.
Per Dwight Jaynes of NBC Sports:
League sources have confirmed to NBC Sports that Trail Blazer big man Zach Collins, who is supposed to undergo surgery for a shoulder injury, specifically needs labral repair in his left shoulder.
Collins sustained the injury in Portland’s 121-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks last week. He was fighting for position for a rebound when he collided with Luka Doncic at the shaded lane.
The 21-year-old big man was seen clutching his left shoulder after the contact and left the game at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter. He did not return to the ball game and went on to miss the Blazers’ next four contests.
Zach Collins leaves game with left shoulder injury#ripcity pic.twitter.com/siIj4s3FGR
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) October 28, 2019
Playing in his third season in Oregon, Collins has received a bigger role in coach Terry Stotts’ rotation, averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in a career-best 28.7 minutes in the team’s first three games of the year.
He has been a bright spot for the Blazers at the power forward position, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and knocking down 42.9 percent of his threes.
Portland still has prized offseason acquisition Hassan Whiteside manning the paint, but they continue to miss some key big men as Jusuf Nurkic and Pau Gasol continue their rehab process as well.
The Blazers are holding on despite the injuries and currently have a 3-3 record through six games. There’s no timetable for Collins’ possible return, but he is could be ready some time before the playoffs.
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