Updates on Kevin Knox and Jarred Vanderbilt injuries

Two of the six NBA rookies from Kentucky this season have received undesirable news concerning their respective injuries.

Kevin Knox of the New York Knicks has been out since Oct. 20 with a sprained ankle and will unfortunately be out even longer. The most recent update suggests that Knox could be out another 2-3 weeks, as Knox’s father, Kevin Knox Sr., told the New York Post that they’re estimating a potential return sometime between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10. Knox Sr. also told the Post that the injury is a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which is less severe than what was originally anticipated for Knox.

His former Wildcat teammate, Jarred Vanderbilt, has been dealing with non-stop injury woes since high school and has had the Denver Nuggets’ full patience in his recovery. There are heavy doubts for Vanderbilt to suit up for the NBA this season which were solidified after Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told the press this:

“He’s a ways away,” when asked about Vanderbilt’s recovery from foot surgery.

Denver took a gamble selecting Vanderbilt in the second round but fully believe in his potential in a league thriving through versatility. He could be a real feel-good story a few years down the road, but for now patience will have to be extended.

You hate to see this happening for the former Kentucky Wildcats, but the good news is they’re still getting paid all the same. Knox is making almost $4 million in his rookie year, while Vanderbilt is making almost $1 million.

This also makes Vanderbilt look even smarter for leaving for the NBA. If he’s not close to a return, you have to wonder how soon he’d be able to suit up for Kentucky if he was still in college with the regular season beginning next week.