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Wizards rookie Deni Avdija reportedly suffers broken ankle on gruesome fall

Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija, bottom, reacts after he was injured during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Washington. Also seen is Wizards center Jordan Bell (7). (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Deni Avdija reportedly suffered a season-ending ankle fracture. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards rookie forward Deni Avdija suffered a gruesome ankle injury on Wednesday and required a wheelchair to leave the court.

The team publicly diagnosed Avdija with an ankle injury before ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that X-rays revealed a season-ending hairline fracture ankle fracture. He won't require surgery, according to the report.

How Avdija got injured

The injury occurred late in the second quarter during Washington's game against the Golden State Warriors. Avdija cut to the basket for a layup attempt before falling to the ground and clutching his right leg after he landed.

Replay from the baseline shows Avdija's right leg bend to the outside while his right foot is pinned below his body. He immediately reached for his leg following the unnatural contortion.

Be warned, the video below is graphic.

Jordan Bell covered Avdija's injured leg with a warmup jersey as trainers tended to the Wizards rookie.

He eventually left the floor on a wheelchair.

Who is Deni Avdija?

Washington selected Avdija out of Israel with the No. 9 pick in last year's NBA draft. Then 6-foot-9 forward projects as a high-upside playmaker, defender and scorer if he can develop a reliable jump shot. He's considered a work in progress at this stage of his NBA career, but many analysts considered his selection with the No. 9 pick a steal for the Wizards.

In 53 games including 31 starts, Avdija is averaging 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.5 minutes per game while shooting 41.7% from the floor and 31.5% from 3-point distance. The extended absence will obviously be a setback for his development.

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