Luc Mbah a Moute Undergoes Knee Surgery, Will Miss Remainder of 2018-2019 Season

The Clippers announced today that forward Luc Mbah a Moute has undergone a partial medial meniscetomy on his left knee, with medial femoral condyle chondroplasty. The surgery occurred yesterday, with a projected return to basketball activities in 8 weeks.

Luc Mbah a Moute has missed almost the entire season (he played the first four games, leaving the 4th, against the Hornets, with the injury) due to the troublesome left knee. Apparently, he tried various non-surgical treatments, but none proved successful. While it seemed Luc was close to returning at various points (late November, late December, mid February), there was never much confidence behind it, and now his 2018-2019 NBA season is officially over.

In four games with the Clippers this season, Luc averaged 5.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. He looked very good defensively, and was supposed to be a key piece to the Clippers’ roster, capable of unlocking small-ball lineups with him alongside Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris, as well as joining Avery Bradley and Pat Beverley in “Clamp City”. Instead, Luc has sat out virtually the entire season, Tobias Harris is now in Philly, and Bradley is in Memphis. And yet, despite the significant shakeup of the Clippers’ roster, they’re 45-30, sitting in 6th place in the Western Conference, a mark of how great and resilient the rest of the roster has been.

For Luc, this has been a lost season. And, at age 32, and with both a decent amount of miles and injuries (he had a bad shoulder injury to end last season with the Rockets) behind him, it’s a lost year he can ill afford. The Clippers love his veteran persona and locker room presence. He’s one of the best people in the NBA, and was a key part of two great (if disappointing) Clippers’ teams. Hopefully he recovers well from this surgery, and can rejoin the Clippers’ in a healthier state next season.