Enes Kanter injury: Jazz center will miss rest of season with shoulder surgery

Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter will miss the rest of the 2012-13 after it was determined a dislocation of his left shoulder will require surgery, the team announced on Tuesday. Kanter will undergo surgery on Wednesday, and his return date will be evaluated after the completion of the procedure.

Kanter injured his shoulder while diving on the floor for a loose ball on March 27 against the Phoenix Suns, and he has missed the last six games. Kanter won't be able to return even if the Jazz hold off the Lakers to make the playoffs, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The second-year center from Turkey had played in 136 of Utah's 138 games leading into the injury. The third overall pick in the 2011 draft averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season as a reserve for starting center Al Jefferson. Just 20 years old, he could be a bigger part of the Jazz's future if the team decides against re-signing Jefferson, who is free agent this coming summer.

In the most impressive performance of his young career and in place of an injured Jefferson, Kanter scored 22 points and grabbed 23 rebounds during a March 1 game against the Charlotte Bobcats.