Atlanta Hawks: Three Injured Players Cleared to Return

By Troy Tauscher | Sep 22, 2015

Dec 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) and forward Paul Millsap (4) and guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) on the court against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Cavaliers 109-101. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Hawks organization and fan base received some good news on the eve of training camp. According to Chris Vivalmore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hawks’ wings Kyle Korver and Thabo Sefolosha, as well as guard Shelvin Mack, have been cleared to return to basketball activities to varying degrees.

This is great news for the Hawks, as both Korver and Sefolosha are integral parts of the Hawks rotation, and Mack is a solid veteran reserve guard. The injuries to these three players contributed to the Hawks’ depressing conclusion to the season, which ended with a 4-0 sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Korver, Atlanta’s best shooter, suffered an ankle injury in Game 2 of the conference finals. He was diagnosed with a severe sprain and, after undergoing surgery, missed the remainder of the playoffs for the Hawks.

About a month later, Korver had another surgery. This time on his elbow.

Injury Update: @KyleKorver having surgery on his right elbow tomorrow to remove loose bodies. A timeline will be established post-surgery.
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 30, 2015

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Mack suffered a separated shoulder in the final game of the series. His expected three- to four-month timetable would make a training camp return right on schedule.

Thabo Sefolosha likely has the most to recover from. On April 8, Sefolosha and teammate Pero Antic were arrested in Manhattan for obstructing police and disorderly conduct. An altercation occurred between Sefolosha and a NYPD officer.

Sefolosha suffered a broken leg and ligament damage that caused him to miss the remainder of the season. The case is set to go to court on Oct. 5.

Per the AJC article cited above, Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer said that, to varying degrees, all three players were doing some kind of work.

“Whether it’s some 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 between now and camp there is the potential for some 5-on-5 in a limited kind of way. But shooting, working out and doing those types of things, they are making good progress.”

Budenholzer also commented that the team will likely try to ease all three back through training camp and the preseason.

These health updates are great news for Atlanta. The Hawks rotation looked very thin going into this season. ALong with these injuries, DeMarre Carroll left to join the Raptors, Antic returned to play in Europe and Mike Scott is facing felony drug charges.

The team is obviously hopeful all three can make a full recovery and help Atlanta follow up on its 60-win season when basketball starts again this fall.

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