Miami Heat Wing Rodney McGruder to Undergo Surgery to Repair Stress Fracture in Leg
After a solid showing last season, Rodney McGruder was projected to start at small forward for the Miami Heat this year. Unfortunately, it has recently been revealed that he's going to have to sit on the sidelines for several months with a stress fracture in his left tibia.
"I've been having a little shin pain. I thought it was like shin splints. So I've been going to treatment, just stuff like that, and try to help with that, the healing process," McGruder said, via the Sun Sentinel.
"But after a while we didn't see any progress and soreness going away, so we took X-rays after the game. Then we found out I had a stress fracture," he added.
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Stress fractures are fairly common in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and while it's possible to play through the pain, it is not advisable. McGruder has also noted that he's not going to take the risk.
"That's a gruesome injury that you've seen some guys deal with in the past and I don't want to go through anything like that," he stated.
McGruder is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and there is no definitive timetable for his return. However, Shams Charania of The Vertical has reported that he's expected to miss three to six months of action while he recovers from surgery.
McGruder had done a great job as the Heat's starting small forward last season after Justise Winslow sustained a labrum tear in his right shoulder.
With McGruder sidelined, Winslow may get the start at small forward. Josh Richardson is likely in the mix as well.
In 78 games (65 starts) last season, McGruder averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists while playing 25.2 minutes a game. The former Kansas State University standout also shot 41.3 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from beyond the three-point line.
