Bucks’ Jae Crowder to be sidelined for two months with injury

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks forward, Jae Crowder, has been sidelined for approximately two months due to a left adductor and abdominal tear, the team announced on Monday.

Crowder initially left Saturday’s game against the Magic with what was thought to be a groin strain. Following further evaluation by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia, it was determined that Crowder would require surgery, scheduled for Tuesday.

Before Monday’s game against the Bulls, Bucks coach Adrian Griffin expressed his disappointment, stating, “Sports can be brutal at times. [Crowder] came into training camp in phenomenal shape — mind, body, and spirit — and he’s a tremendous piece of what we’re trying to do moving forward.”

At 33 years old, Crowder had been a standout player for the Bucks in the early part of the season, averaging 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 53% overall and 52% from 3-point range. He had also been one of the team’s leaders in minutes played, trailing only stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

Acquired by the Bucks at the trade deadline last February, Crowder struggled to find his rhythm in the latter half of the 2022-23 season after sitting out the first half. However, under Griffin’s leadership, Crowder had become a key reserve for the team, appearing in all nine games this season and making a couple of spot starts in the absence of forward Khris Middleton during back-to-back games.

Griffin expressed confidence in Crowder’s comeback, stating, “He’ll be back. He’ll be back way before the playoffs to get his rhythm back.”