:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59220825/usa_today_10739949.0.jpg)
UPDATE: The Hawks have confirmed Schröder’s injury and recovery time:
An @emoryhealthcare injury update:
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 30, 2018
Dennis Schröder underwent an MRI at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. It revealed a medial bone bruise & Grade 2 left ankle sprain. The expected recovery time is 2-4 weeks and he will miss the remainder of the season. pic.twitter.com/L7dsV7P12l
Per a report from the AJC’s Michael Cunningham, Dennis Schröder will not return this season from his ankle injury:
Schroder ruled out for season after MRI confirms bone bruise on ankle.
— Michael Cunningham (@MCunninghamAJC) March 30, 2018
The news comes on the heels of Schröder missing three of the last four games with both a grade 2 ankle sprain and the bone bruise Cunningham reported. Schröder will finish the year having averaged a career-high 19.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, as well as 6.2 assists per game, down just barely from 6.3 assists last season. Though his shooting numbers dipped this year, Schröder played a much larger role in the offense on the 2017-18 team and was supposed to be the Hawks’ best player coming into the year.
Schröder joins backcourt partner Kent Bazemore on the injured-for-the-rest-of-the-year list as the Hawks wind down the season with their last handful of games. Isaiah Taylor will start tonight against Philadelphia with Malcolm Delaney still suffering from his own ankle injury.
The Hawks are eligible to sign a 16th player to their roster through the NBA’s hardship exception, but they’ll have to apply for it and have a player in mind quickly before the season ends in just a few days.