It’s the bummer of the summer.
While the Utah Jazz’s trio of first-round draft picks figured to be the main attraction as the Salt Lake City Summer League tipped off Monday night, injuries kept two of them sidelined.
Jazz rookies Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh sat out of Monday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, disappointing a crowd that packed the Delta Center’s lower bowl.
Both players are considered “day to day.” Their practices, however, have been limited to just individual work on the court, Jazz summer league head coach Evan Bradds said. Off the court, they’re focusing on their rehab, plus strength and conditioning, according to a team source.
Will Hendricks or Sensabaugh make their debuts later this week?
For now, the Jazz’s medical team is being patient with the first-round selections — and Jazz fans may need to do the same.
Hendricks is out due to a right hamstring strain. He said the injury was the reason that he missed his workout with the Jazz during the pre-draft tour, though he did work out with Dallas, Detroit, Indiana, Oklahoma City, and Orlando, according to HoopsHype.
Hendricks said that he felt “no pain” when working out with the Jazz in a post-draft session.
“I would like to — I would love to — play in summer league, but we’re going to take it a day at a time,” Hendricks said a week ago.
Sensabaugh, meanwhile, is missing time due to “left knee surgery recovery,” according to the team. Sensabaugh’s freshman season with Ohio State was cut short at just the wrong time: With the Buckeyes marching in the Big Ten Tournament, he was diagnosed with an undisclosed knee injury that would cause him to miss the rest of the season.
However, Sensabaugh was cleared by doctors to “begin visiting and working out for teams” by June 3, according to ESPN. He ended up working out with at least the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies. But like Hendricks never worked out for the Jazz before being selected by the team on June 22.
“I’ve obviously worked on it for the past three months, but I’m feeling good. I’m just kind of taking it day by day right now,” Sensabaugh said after being drafted. “I’m not looking too far into the future. But you know, I’m ready for anything. So, you know, whatever the medical (team) has for me, I’m willing to do.”
The Jazz will play the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at the Delta Center. The team hosts the Memphis Grizzlies in the Salt Lake Summer League finale on Thursday night.
