By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid has been dealt a staggering blow as the club confirmed on Thursday that star center Walter Tavares has been diagnosed with a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee.
The injury occurred during the opening minutes of Game 1 in the best-of-five series against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv to start the Playoffs of the 2025-26 installment of the EuroLeague, where the Cape Verdean giant was forced to limp to the locker room after less than three minutes of action.
Following extensive medical evaluations, the club announced that his recovery will be closely monitored, though the nature of the diagnosis suggests he will be sidelined for at least several weeks.
Parte médico de Tavares.
— Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) April 30, 2026
The absence of the 7-foot-3 veteran creates a massive void for head coach Sergio Scariolo, who acknowledged the difficulty of restructuring the team’s identity mid-series in his postgame press conference after Game 1. He noted that playing without the three-time EuroLeague Best Defender fundamentally alters their tactical approach, especially with Game 2 looming this Friday at the Movistar Arena.
Tavares has been a cornerstone of the Madrid rotation this season, averaging 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 39 starts. His defensive presence is nearly impossible to replicate, leaving the rest of the roster to compensate for the loss of a player who has twice led Los Blancos to European glory.
With the series set to move to Arena Botevgrad for Game 3 next Tuesday, his side faces the daunting task of securing a spot in the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, without their most decorated interior force.