The Los Angeles Clippers will be without No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin for up to six weeks due to a broken kneecap.
The Clippers revealed late Monday night that the power forward suffered a stress fracture of his left patella during the team's final preseason game, against the New Orleans Hornets on Friday. The team said it would provide an update as the course of treatment for Griffin on Tuesday, the day the Clippers open the regular season against the defending NBA champion Lakers.
It's another misfortune for the Clippers, who have made the playoffs just once in their last 12 seasons.
The 2009 National Player of the Year, Griffin averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds in his sophomore season for the Oklahoma Sooners.
The 20-year-old led the nation in rebounding and double-doubles (30) and helped the Sooners advance to the Elite Eight in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. His 504 rebounds were the highest season rebound total in college basketball since Larry Bird grabbed 505 boards in 1978-79.
The 6-foot-10, 251-pound Griffin was named to the All-Big 12 Team as a freshman in 2007-08, and last season he finished second in the nation in field goal percentage (.659) and 11th in scoring (22.7).
© 2009
