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UVA hoops alum De’Andre Hunter to undergo knee surgery

De’Andre Hunter national title
De’Andre Hunter

Virginia hoops alum De’Andre Hunter will miss the remainder of the 2021 NBA playoffs, as the Atlanta Hawks confirmed today that he will need to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his balky right knee.

The right knee has been a problem for Hunter, a 2019 UVA hoops alum, since January, when he was first treated for right knee soreness that caused him to miss 46 regular-season games this season.

Hunter, who averaged 15.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Hawks, and is often assigned to guard the opponent’s top perimeter threat, did return for Atlanta’s first-round series with the New York Knicks, averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while helping hold Knicks star Julius Randle to 18.0 points per game on 29.8 percent shooting, well off Randle’s season numbers of 24.1 points per game and 45.6 percent shooting from the floor.

Hunter had missed the first two games of the Hawks’ series with the top seed in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers, and his presence was missed.

“We absolutely miss him. We certainly are a better ballclub when he’s out on the floor with us, because he just does so many things,” Hawks coach McMillan said of Hunter after Atlanta’s Game 2 loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday. “Not only can he defend multiple positions, but he’s also an option on the offensive end of the floor.”

Story by Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].