Washington Wizards wing Jamir Watkins has undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, with a team source indicating the second-year forward could miss the entire 2026-27 season.
The procedure was completed successfully this week, days after Watkins suffered the injury during the Wizards' NBA Summer League opener in Las Vegas. Watkins, 25, is on a two-way contract with Washington, and his absence is expected to be a long one.
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, a team source said the player could be sidelined for the whole of next season. While Watkins is expected to miss the majority of the regular season, doctors have not ruled out the possibility of him returning towards the backend of the campaign, with his recovery timeline to be determined by the rehab process.
Watkins was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Florida State, where he built a reputation for his two-way ability and relentless motor. He carried that identity into his rookie year with Washington, averaging 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals-plus-blocks per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three-point range.
The injury came at a cruel moment for the young forward, who had been expected to build on a solid first season and compete for minutes on a Wizards roster hoping to take a step forward. It also leaves Washington without one of its better perimeter defenders for most of the campaign: in the summer league opener, Watkins was handed the demanding assignment of guarding number two overall pick Darryn Peterson, a matchup he had handled well before going down.
ACL tears typically require six to twelve months of recovery, and for basketball players the rehabilitation process can stretch even longer given the demands the sport places on healthy knees. His next steps will now depend on how the knee responds in the weeks and months ahead.
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