Sacramento Kings offer injury update on Kevin Huerter as he recovers from shoulder surgery

Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter is nearing a return seven months after suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the end of the 2023-24 season.

The Kings provided an update on Huerter’s recovery Friday as they prepared to play a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The team said Huerter has been cleared for full-contact court activity after being reevaluated by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at Cedars-Sinai Kerland-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. Huerter will progress through the final stages of return-to-play protocol before returning to game action.

Kings coach Mike Brown could not provide a timeline for Huerter, saying he doesn’t know if he will be ready for the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 24 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

“No timeline, I have no clue,” Brown said. “There are a lot of steps that he still has to go through.”

Huerter is expected to challenge Keon Ellis for a starting spot at shooting guard when he returns. The Kings will be happy to have Huerter back after dealing with a number of injuries during training camp.

In addition to Huerter, Trey Lyles (groin), Jordan McLaughlin (ankle), Orlando Robinson (knee) and Devin Carter (shoulder) have been sidelined due to injuries. McLaughlin is expected to be reevaluated any day now. Lyles will be reevaluated next week. Robinson will be reevaluated in early November. Carter is expected to be reevaluated in mid-January.

“It will be great (to get Huerter back),” Brown said. “We have a handful of guys that are out right now, so to get to a point where you have your whole team so you can evaluate it the right way is very exciting. Any news that you get that any of these guys, obviously starting with Kevin because we just got the news on Kevin, but any of these guys taking another step forward to getting back on the floor is exciting.”

Huerter, 26, underwent surgery after suffering a dislocated left shoulder and torn labrum in a March 18 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The injury caused him to miss the last 15 games of the 2023-24 regular season and two play-in games

Huerter started 139 games at shooting guard for the Kings over the past two seasons. He averaged a career-high 15.2 points while shooting a career-best 40.2% from 3-point range in 2022-23 to help Sacramento end a 16-year playoff drought.