Jeff Teague said he played last season with a “tear in my patella” according to a statement that the Hawks point guard posted on his Instagram account Thursday.
In the post — which was later deleted — Teague said: “They wont tell y’all but I played with a tear in my patella the whole year and could barely jump or stop but it’s coo got that taken care #illbebackdunking #theywontsaythatpart.”
Teague also posted on Twitter of his inability to play basketball this summer. He wrote: “First time in life I’ve never been able to hoop this long I’m getting frustrated.” The post has not been deleted.
Teague did not say whether he underwent surgery nor when the injury occurred.
Hawks officials are aware of the posts, but had no immediate comment.
According to a report by ESPN’s Mike Mazzeo on Friday, citing sources, Teague played with a partial tear of his patella tendon during the season and had an MRI exam following the campaign. The report stated surgery would not be required.
In a brief interview with the media following the Hawks’ season-ending playoff loss to the Cavaliers last month, Teague mentioned his summer plan was “just getting healthy.
Here is the exchange:
Q: What's not healthy?
A: Knees. Ankles.
Q: Just from playing normal 82-plus games?
A: A little different this year than previous years but I will be all right.
Q: Will you need surgery?
A: Nah. I hope not. Better not.
The Hawks are likely to trade either Teague or backup point guard Dennis Schroder this offseason. Teague will enter next season in the final year of his contract that will pay him $8 million. He was the subject of discussions around the NBA trade deadline last season and his name has surfaced again this offseason.
Teague has been a model of health during his NBA career. He appeared in 79 games during the past regular season, including 78 starts. He missed the three games with an ankle sprain. Teague averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists last season. The numbers were down slightly from the 15.9 points and 7.0 assists he averaged two seasons ago when he was named to the Eastern Conference all-star team.
Teague just finished his seventh season with the Hawks after he was drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. He is the second longest tenured Hawks player behind Al Horford. He has been a mainstay of the Hawks starting lineup for the past five seasons.
Teague signed a four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Bucks as a restricted free agent in 2013. The Hawks matched the deal.
