Pistons shooting guard Avery Bradley's injury is worse than originally believed.
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Originally labeled a right abductor strain, Bradley's injury is now being described by coach Stan Van Gundy as a “pubic stress injury” with symptoms similar to a sports hernia.
He will be shut down for at least one week.
"We’ll go at least seven days and then week to week," Van Gundy said, via NBA.com.
"It’s going to take some time. He’ll basically do nothing for the next seven days and then we’ll see where he is and whether we’re starting him back or not.”
The Pistons have gone 2-0 with Bradley out of the lineup, but the veteran shooting guard was averaging 15.7 points while providing solid perimeter defense.
Rookie Luke Kennard has been starting in Bradley's place, and the first-round pick understands he needs to take advantage of the opportunity.
“My aggressiveness needs to pick up more,” Kennard said.
“I feel like I need to bring a little more to the team. I don’t want to do something that is out of my comfort zone. I don’t want to be someone that I’m not. I know the coaches don’t want that, but they want me to be more aggressive, more assertive.
"So my mind is all about that right now. I’m focused on that and what I can bring. And I want to bring more.”
The Pistons (17-13) are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings entering Thursday's (AEDT) play.