Portland's season took a heavy hit before it has even started. ESPN reported, and ONE relayed on Monday, that Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe has torn the meniscus in his knee and is expected to be sidelined for roughly six months — a blow that lands squarely on the team built around him and Israeli forward Deni Avdija.
Sharpe, 23, is set to undergo surgery this week, according to the ESPN report. Barring setbacks, that timeline points to a possible return in late February or early March, meaning the Canadian guard would miss the large majority of the 2026-27 regular season.
The injury is a cruel turn for a player coming off his best professional campaign. Sharpe averaged 20.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.4 minutes per game last season, establishing himself as one of Portland's primary offensive threats alongside Avdija.
It is also the second significant injury blow for Sharpe in as many years — he already lost a chunk of last season to a stress fracture in his left fibula, limiting the games the two young guards were able to build chemistry together on the floor.
The timing stings further given Sharpe's contract situation: he signed a four-year, $90 million extension with the Trail Blazers that officially begins this season, a deal reflecting the franchise's long-term bet on him as a cornerstone piece.
With Sharpe out for the foreseeable future, the offensive burden in Portland is expected to shift heavily onto Avdija, who arrived from Washington last year and quickly became a focal point of the Blazers' attack. Losing his running mate for most of the season will force head coach Chauncey Billups to lean even more on the Israeli forward and reshuffle the rotation around him.
ONE's report, attributed to ESPN sources, is consistent with reporting from NBA.com, Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports, all of which cited the same six-month recovery window following the meniscus tear.
