Kings rookie Devin Carter undergoes shoulder surgery, will miss at least 6 months

Kings rookie Devin Carter undergoes shoulder surgery, will miss at least 6 months

Sacramento Kings rookie Devin Carter officially underwent left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and will miss at least the next six months, the team announced Thursday.

“The Sacramento Kings announced today that Devin Carter underwent successful left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum,” the team’s press release read. “The procedure was performed by Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Baptist Health Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. Carter will begin the rehabilitation process and is expected to make a full recovery. A medical update will be provided in approximately six months.”

It was reported by Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft that Carter was dealing with a shoulder injury, though the severity was unknown at the time. It was subsequently revealed that he suffered the injury during a pre-draft workout and that he would have to undergo surgery at some point.

This is very unfortunate news for Carter, the son of 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter. He was one of my favorite evaluations during the 2024 draft cycle.

The 22-year-old guard averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, including 37.7 percent from 3-point range and 74.9 percent from the free-throw line. Carter was not only one of the most athletic players in the class–showcasing a 35-inch standing vertical and a 42-inch max vert at the Draft Combine–but he was functionally athletic. He used it to his advantage around the rim.

The 6-foot-3 guard was also one of the best defenders in this cycle, averaging 2.8 stocks (steals + blocks) per game and 3.4 per 75 possessions. He was lanky (6-foot-9 wingspan) with a bulldog mentality at the point-of-attack. He had very good hands, generating deflections and stocks without fouling (2.4 fouls per 75).

When he’s back and healthy, I think he will be a great fit alongside De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk, among others. Expect DeRozan, a former teammate of Anthony, to take the young buck under his wing, too.

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