By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Atlanta Hawks announced that rookie center Henri Veesaar tore the ACL in his right knee during a workout on September 15.
After an MRI at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, the team confirmed he will undergo surgery with Dr. Kyle Hammond in October. The diagnosis means the seven-foot Estonian is expected to miss his entire 2026–27 season. It is a brutal setback for a young player who had just earned his spot on the 15-player roster.
Monday’s update regarding the Real Madrid youth product leaves Atlanta incredibly thin up front. The Hawks were already dealing with a depleted frontline after forward Mouhamed Gueye fractured his left foot and had surgery in July. With the 23-year-old Senegalese power forward still weeks away from evaluation, they also face a tough roster squeeze. They currently carry 15 guaranteed contracts. If they look to shake up the roster, their lack of open spots complicates possible trades.
An @emoryhealthcare injury update:
During a workout on Sept. 15, Henri Veesaar sustained a right knee injury. Following an MRI and evaluation at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, he was diagnosed with a torn right ACL.
Veesaar will undergo surgery with Dr. Kyle Hammond at the… pic.twitter.com/fxVePjEiNF
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 21, 2026
Veesaar’s path to the NBA was defined by resilience. He learned the game in Madrid and debuted for the Estonian senior national team at just 17 during the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. From the Spanish capital, he moved to Tucson to play for Arizona in the NCAA. An injury derailed his sophomore year, forcing him to take a redshirt season. He recovered, carved out a rotation role, and then transferred to North Carolina for his junior year. In Chapel Hill, he averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting over 42.6% from deep. That rare combination of size and shooting convinced Atlanta to trade up to the 52nd pick in June to draft him, making Veesaar the first Estonian selected since 1996.
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