By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Raymar Morgan, sidelined since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, underwent surgery on his injured back and will remain out for two more months, LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne announced Tuesday.
Morgan, 33, joined the French club in July and was projected to provide additional depth in the frontcourt positions. However, the back injury has pushed back his debut as a member of ASVEL and in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
The Canton-born forward/center has spent his entire career in Europe since coming out of Michigan State in 2010. From Israel and Germany to Greece, Turkey, and Russia through the last decade and change.
Previous experience in European club competitions includes 68 appearances in the 7DAYS EuroCup and 15 in the Basketball Champions League as a leading member of Pinar Karsiyaka reaching the Final 8 championship game held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, last May. He recorded 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per BCL contest earning a spot in the Star Lineup First Team of the season.
T.J. Parker’s side is carrying a strong 5-2 W-L record into Round 8 of the EuroLeague Regular Season and Thursday’s home fixture opposite UNICS Kazan, among the former teams of Morgan. He powered the Kazan team in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 editions of both EuroCup and the VTB United League, playing under Dimitris Priftis, since opting to take over Panathinaikos OPAP.
At the domestic level, ASVEL at 5-1 currently shares first place with fellow EuroLeague side AS Monaco and Metropolitans 92.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League