Greg Monroe diagnosed with MCL sprain, out for multiple games
Bucks big man Greg Monroe has an MCL sprain in his left knee and is expected to miss at least the next few games.
The team announced on Twitter that the 25-year-old Georgetown product underwent an MRI on Wednesday which revealed the diagnosis.
Greg Monroe had an MRI today and was diagnosed with a left knee MCL sprain. He is out tonight. pic.twitter.com/Sjpb6GKLzc
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 16, 2015
Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel added that the sprain is of the Grade 1 variety and is not expected to sideline Monroe for long.
Greg Monroe had MRI exam today and it revealed a Grade 1 left knee MCL sprain, according to team. Not expected to keep him out too long.
— cfgardner (@cf_gardner) December 16, 2015
However, Jeff Zilgitt of USA TODAY Sports notes that Monroe missed time with a similar injury in 2014-15 as a member of the Detroit Pistons. He also reports that Monroe is expected to miss “approximately three games” this time around.
Bucks C-F Greg Monroe's sore knee could keep him out a few games, I've been told. Similar to strain that kept him out a few games in 14-15.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) December 16, 2015
Monroe signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the team over the summer and is averaging 16.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field this season. While Monroe doesn’t protect the rim and has often forced the young Bucks to play at a slower pace, his low-post scoring and his playmaking from the elbows have been of immense value to the team so far, despite their 10-16 record.
The timing of the injury to Monroe, who was a late scratch in last night’s 113-95 loss to the Lakers, is curious however as video surfaced on Wednesday of Monroe and some of his fellow Milwaukee teammates partying in Los Angeles the morning before that game against the Lakers. If it comes to light that Monroe’s injury was somehow caused or aggravated by that night of partying, whether directly or indirectly, well, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “That’s not gonna be good for anybody.”
Image Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports