SAN ANTONIO \u2013 San Antonio Spurs first-round pick Jayden Quaintance underwent successful surgery on his right knee to repair meniscus damage, the team announced Wednesday through a news release.<\/p>\n
There is no immediate timeframe for his return. According to the Spurs, it is likely the 6-foot-10 forward will miss all of training camp and potentially a significant portion of the regular season. <\/p>\n
It was known before the team selected Quaintance with the 20th-overall pick that he would need a second surgery on his right knee to clean up his meniscus. <\/p>\n
The follow-up surgery comes after Quaintance tore his ACL in February 2025 while playing for Arizona State. He played in just four games last season for Kentucky. <\/p>\n
After he was selected on draft night, Quaintance admitted he was still experiencing \u201ca little pain\u201d but expressed confidence in the Spurs\u2019 medical staff to prioritize his long-term health. <\/p>\n
Injury concerns were the main reason Quaintance fell in the NBA draft. He was once seen as a future lottery pick following his freshman season with the Sun Devils, where he earned Big 12 All-Defensive honors and set a freshman school record with 63 blocks. <\/p>\n
The Spurs bought low on Quaintance, banking on their medical team\u2019s assessment that he\u2019ll return to full health and sustain a long NBA career. The forward just turned 19 years old on July 11.<\/p>\n