San Antonio Spurs big man Tiago Splitter remains out indefinitely with an apparent back injury despite recent tests coming back clean, reports Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. The 29-year-old has missed most of the season due to the injury, which is becoming something of a mystery for the franchise.
The Spurs have no idea when Tiago Splitter will return from injury
The Spurs’ big man doesn’t have a return date in mind despite clean results from a recent MRI.
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Splitter underwent an MRI with a back specialist in Los Angeles earlier this week after missing the start of this season due to pain in his calf. The Spurs initially believed that the calf strain was resulting from disc inflammation in Splitter’s back, but his comments Wednesday indicate uncertainty over the situation.
From the Spurs’ perspective, it’s good news that Splitter doesn’t have any major damage to his back, but it’s hard not to be concerned given the ongoing pain in his calf. Injuries typically aren’t that difficult to diagnose and treat with modern medicine, so it’s unusual to see a team actively searching for answers without finding any.
Splitter's health may ultimately be one of the biggest things looming over San Antonio's ability to compete for a second consecutive championship this season. The big man is an integral part of the Spurs' frontcourt, especially with an aging Tim Duncan taking frequent nights off, but doesn't have a current timetable for his return. If he ends up missing a significant portion of the season, or proves unable to be healthy for the postseason, Gregg Popovich could have some serious challenges in the coming months.
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