What Happened to Shaedon Sharpe? 21YO Blazers Star Could Miss Significant Time After Injury Setback

Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard, Shaedon Sharpe, has suffered a setback ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. After injuring the same spot for the second time in 2 years, it seems the hooper can’t catch a break. The promising youngster faces another obstacle in his path to be ‘as good as Booker’, a belief of his head coach, Chauncey Billups. Their promising but not-so-fit roster is standing in the way of the Blazers’ imminent rebuild.

The 21-year-old injured his left shoulder during the training camp and has been diagnosed with a small posterior labral tear, an MRI confirmed this week. The injury is expected to keep him out for 4 to 6 weeks, potentially sidelining him for up to 12 games. Although the labral tear is not severe enough to require surgery, Shaedon Sharpe will need several weeks of rehab before returning to full health.

This injury will be a frustrating one for the young star, who was hoping to bounce back after missing significant time in 2023-2024. Last season, Shaedon Sharpe made only 32 appearances because of a core muscle injury, averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.

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Shaedon Sharpe has suffered a small posterior labral tear in his left shoulder, an MRI confirmed this week.

Sharpe will begin rehabilitation and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 5, 2024

What’s your reaction?Is Shaedon Sharpe’s injury the final nail in the coffin for the Blazers’ rebuild dreams?

Even though Chauncey Billups, once assured Ryan Clarke of Oregon Live about the young gun’s potential that he’ll “be Devin Booker one day,” this injury setback could delay Shaedon’s efforts to establish himself as a key part of the Trail Blazers’ future.

“The way he (Booker) had to grind and come up through the ranks, he played for 4 or 5 different coaches his first few years in the league, He played the right way no matter who was coaching him, and then, bang. That’s a great model for Shaedon. He’s got that type of talent offensively and defensively, so, to me, that should be his model,” Billups’ wild claim about Sharpe came last year.

The youngster’s injury, however, has come at a crucial time. He’ll be eligible for a rookie-scale extension at the end of the season. It’s harder for the team to commit years and money to Shaedon Sharpe long-term without seeing him play and develop enough to their liking, isn’t it? What about the bigger picture?

What’s your perspective on:

Can Shaedon Sharpe overcome his injuries to become the next Devin Booker for the Blazers?

Have an interesting take?Portland Trail Blazers’ rebuild sprung onto the backfoot after Shaedon Sharpe’s injuryPortland has focused on developing young players, particularly after trading their franchise cornerstone, Damian Lillard. The team expected Shaedon Sharpe to play a critical role in this process, particularly in the backcourt with Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson. So now, with Sharpe sidelined, Henderson will likely assume a bigger role than earlier anticipated. The Portland side also added 23-year-old Deni Avdija, who averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds last season with the Wizards.

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Shaedon’s injury adds to the challenges the Blazers face in their lineup. Robert Williams III, a crucial piece of their frontcourt, is also dealing with a hamstring strain, which leaves the Portland side a bit short of depth as the season approaches. These injuries place extra pressure on the young roster, which is already in a rebuilding phase.

Despite this setback, the Blazers remain optimistic about Shaedon Sharpe’s long-term potential. The team drafted him 7th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, and he has already shown glimpses of his elite athleticism and scoring ability. His performances this season will prove crucial for both the team and his personal growth as he heads into contract extension talks next year.

If Shaedon Sharpe returns within the 4-week timeline, he could rejoin the court by early November, aiding the Blazers in kick-starting the early part of the season strongly. However, if his recovery takes any longer, they will need to depend on other players to fill the gap. 7-footer, Donovan Clingan could also be called upon and moved into a starting role amidst the developing injury crisis in Portland.

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Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.