Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar sustained a torn ACL injury in his left knee after falling down awkwardly during Slovenia’s friendly game against Greece last Friday, per Mike Singer of The Denver Post.
According to Singer, it remains to be determined when a surgery will take place.
Cancar fell down holding his left knee after flushing a coast-to-coast dunk during the fourth period of their exhibition bout against the Greeks. He didn’t return to the game afterwards, finishing with four points and two boards in 21 minutes of play.
Cancar’s absence isn’t just a major blow for the Slovenians who will play in Okinawa for the group phase of the World Cup. His assumed inactivity for the entire 2023-24 season is a gut-wrenching one for the defending champion Denver Nuggets knowing that he would have received a much improved role for them upon both Bruce Brown and Jeff Green’s free agency exit.
His unavailability would put sophomore wing Peyton Watson and rookie Hunter Tyson for a sudden increased responsibility under coach Michael Malone.
Cancar, 26, played in 60 regular season games last 2022-23 and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 boards and 1.3 assists. His contract for the 2024-25 season wherein he’ll earn $2.34MM is a team option.
Slovenia has all the anxiety now as the nation also tends to wait on the evaluation of Luka Doncic’s knee amid reports that there’s no concern at the side of the superstar’s status.
