By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest injury setback concerning Fenerbahce Beko was officially addressed on Thursday.
Arturs Zagars suffered a medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He will undergo surgery and follow up with rehabilitation in Istanbul with the assistance of Fener’s medical team. He will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Zagars, 23, was injured playing for the Wolves in Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL. He was carried off the court during the visit to 7bet-Lietkabelis last Saturday. The initial fears for a severe knee injury are now confirmed by the team based in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce loaned the Latvian point guard to the Wolves after signing him to a three-year contract in September, following his breakout showings in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. However, the loan assignment was cut short due to the injury and subsequent surgery in Turkiye.
Starting the 2023-24 campaign at the club level, Zagars produced ten points, four assists, and one rebound in a losing effort to Paris in Round 1 of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, his lone appearance. In four games played domestically, he averaged 12 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per contest.
His performances in the recent World Cup included setting a new record for the most assists in a single game with 17 in the fifth-place game against Lithuania. He was named in the All-Second Team, contributing to a history-making performance for his country ranking fifth overall in the first appearance in FIBA’s flagship event.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net