Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday for a meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced Friday night.
In his fourth year, Sexton was injured Nov. 7 in a road game against the New York Knicks. The Cavs said evaluation over the past week determined that surgery was the best course of action and the procedure was performed at Emory University Sports Medicine Center in Atlanta.
The eighth overall pick from the University of Alabama in 2018, Sexton averaged 16 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 28.7 minutes of 11 games this season while shooting .453 from the field. His scoring average stands second on the team behind Darius Garland (17.8).
In 2020-21, Sexton posted career-high averages of 24.3 points and 4.4 assists.
Sexton will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 season as the Cavs elected not to sign him to an extension on his rookie deal before the Oct. 18 deadline. The Cavs will have the right to match any offer sheet Sexton receives, although it could be a short-term deal.
Sexton said on Oct. 19, the day before the season opener, that the lack of an extension would not affect his approach.
"At the end of the day we've got one goal, and that's to win and get to the playoffs," he said. "I know I was disappointed a little bit. But that doesn't take away from the teammates ... we're going to win basketball games together and have a good season."
Known for his tireless work ethic, Sexton said his contract status would give him something to prove.
"Oh, yeah, absolutely. Every year I try to add something, I always add fuel to my fire on certain things," he said on Oct. 19. "I take it as motivation, just to continue to get better, continue to learn, and continue to improve. I know what I have to do to take that next jump to get to the next level that I want to be at."
