Toumani Camara's rookie NBA season comes to an end after suffering a fractured rib and minor kidney laceration during a game in Atlanta.
During Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara left the fourth quarter with a rib injury. Subsequent tests revealed a fractured left rib and a minor kidney laceration, as officially announced by the team.
Camara remained in a hospital in Atlanta for further observation but has since shown improvement and has been discharged. He will now return to Portland for additional testing and care.
The team has confirmed that Camara will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
The 23-year-old Belgian player was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the 52nd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, in late September, he became part of the three-team blockbuster trade involving Damian Lillard and was traded to Portland.
In his rookie season, Camara has averaged 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 70 games, with 49 starts.
Camara is the second Belgian and the first Belgian-born player to play in the NBA. While Didier Mbenga, who secured NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, holds Belgian nationality, he was born in Kinshasa, DRC.
Axel Hervelle, on the other hand, was the first Belgian drafted by an NBA team, but he never inked a contract and consequently never competed in the league.
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