Covington set for summer after surgery
Robert Covington will rehab in Philadelphia and, said the club in a press release, “is expected to transition back to full weight-bearing in approximately two weeks.”
Sixers forward Robert Covington had his previously announced surgery Tuesday to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee. According to the club, the operation was “successful.”
Covington will rehab in Philadelphia and, said the club in a press release, “is expected to transition back to full weight-bearing in approximately two weeks.”
The surgery was performed by Dr. Christopher Dodson, the Sixers’ head physician, at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia. Dr. Jonathan Glashow assisted.
The Sixers said Covington is, “expected to resume basketball activities this summer.” They said they would provide recovery updates, “when appropriate.”
Covington just completed his fourth NBA season, averaging 12.9 points and surfacing as the Sixers’ most reliable perimeter defender. He is expected to receive votes for the NBA’s AllDefensive team.
Covington was injured March 28 in Brooklyn and missed the final eight games of the season. Before the Sixers’ final game of the season, last week in New York, he said he was assured that the rehabilitation would not be complicated. He said he was told that such surgery typically requires up to six weeks of recovery time, but that his peak physical condition would allow him to recuperate quicker.
“The doctor explained it to me,” Covington said. “It’s not as serious as you’d think, just to go in. It’s more precaution than anything, so I won’t have any issues down the road.”
Covington, 26, came to the Sixers as a free agent in November, 2014, after being waived by Houston. He will enter the 2017-2018 season on an expiring contract. Bryan Colangelo has said he would be interested in discussing an extension.
“It’s certainly something we want to address,” the team president said, last week at the Sixers’ training center. “There is some flexibility in the new CBA that allows us to make a more concerted attempt toward that. I cannot talk about free-agent related thing, including your own players. But Robert Covington is a valued piece of this organization. He has really vaulted to a player that we want to make part of this organization. He deserves a lot of credit for what he has done. He has become a really, established player at that three-and-D position.”
At his end-of-season exit interview last week, Covington sounded excited about the continued expansion of his game, from a three-point shooter to a scorer-defender.