By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ATHENS – Usman Garuba suffered a scary, non-contact leg injury during the fourth quarter of the EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, Semifinals at the Telekom Center Athens on Friday.
The Real Madrid player was unable to leave the court under his own power, requiring assistance from his teammates to head straight to the locker room. This sudden exit adds to a severe frontcourt crisis for Los Blancos, as the defensive anchor was operating as the only available center due to pre-existing injuries to fellow bigs Walter Tavares, who is nursing a knee injury, and Alex Len, who is sidelined with a foot injury.
Before this devastating exit, Garuba had stepped up as a reliable inside presence during the 2025-26 edition of the EuroLeague, averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game over 39 appearances. He is a veteran of 120 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition, playing his entire continental career with Los Blancos.
A youth product of the team based in the Spanish capital, he became the youngest starter in club history at 17 to break Luka Doncic’s record. The Madrid native ultimately claimed the EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards in 2021.
Physical strength also translated to 105 NBA games between 2021 and 2024 for the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, where he averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Having returned to Spain in 2024 on a three-year contract through 2027, a possible spell on the injury list will remove yet another center option for head coach Sergio Scariolo.
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