Portland Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli will undergo a surgical procedure on his left knee with the assistance of a cadaver donor next week, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes. Ezeli had difficulty finding a donor due to his 6’11 frame, according to Haynes, and the cadaver was recently submitted.
Festus Ezeli will have the NBA’s first ever surgery involving a cadaver donor, per report
Carson Palmer had a similar procedure in 2006.
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Injuries have plagued the Trail Blazers center, who has yet to appear in a game since signing a two-year, $15.2-million deal with the team last summer. The team announced Ezeli will officially miss the remainder of the season.
No NBA players have ever undergone surgery with the assistance of a cadaver donor, per Haynes, but Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer had a procedure done after tearing both the ACL and MCL of his left knee in the 2006 playoffs with the Cincinnati Bengals.
After five months of rehabilitation following the surgery, Palmer was able to run and started as the Bengals’ QB in Week 1 of the following season.
Ezeli had surgeries on both his left and right knee during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors.
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