Report: Knicks F Jeffries fractures fibula in scrimmage

Oct 3, 2008 - 4:10 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- New York Knicks forward Jared Jeffries will miss six to eight weeks after fracturing his left fibula during a scrimmage Thursday, according to the New York Post.

The newspaper reported that Jeffries landed awkwardly while running up the court during the scrimmage and originally came off the floor with what was thought to be a strained calf. The severity of the injury was determined after the workout was over.

The injury comes at a poor time for Jeffries, who had been in good favor with new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. The coach admitted in recent days that the 6-11 forward would be a part of the team's nine-man rotation.

Conversely, Jeffries had not gotten off to a good start in his first two years in New York, which became one of the biggest laughingstocks in professional sports under former coach and team president Isiah Thomas. Jeffries broke his wrist in his first campaign with the team during the preseason and was not much of a factor last season.

Jeffries, who was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2002 draft, has averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in six seasons with the Knicks and Washington Wizards.

New York also will be without center Eddy Curry, who will miss the remainder of training camp while recovering from a bacterial infection. The Post also reported that first-round pick Danilo Gallinari will be out indefinitely thanks to a bulging disk in his back.

The Knicks, who have not won a playoff game since 2001, are in the first season of a new regime, which includes D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh.