Potential 2020 NBA draft lottery pick RJ Hampton will miss about four weeks with a hip injury, a source told ESPN.
Hampton suffered a hip flexor injury with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL last week and was prescribed to rest by a sport and exercise physician he visited, which will likely keep him out of action until mid-January.
The 18-year-old Hampton is averaging 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 22 minutes per game and is currently forecasted as the number seven prospect in the ESPN 100. Hampton will rehab his injury in New Zealand and is expected to make a full recovery and continue to play for the Breakers as they close out the regular season in February.
Decision makers from several NBA teams were expected to be in Australia and New Zealand in the coming weeks to evaluate both him and potential No. 1 overall pick LaMelo Ball, who plays for the Illawarra Hawks, with the two scheduled to play each other for the third time on Dec. 22.
Ball will be out until early January with a foot injury, ESPN reported on Sunday.
The shortened time frame for NBA general managers to evaluate Ball and Hampton will likely cause executives to reschedule their visits to Australia and New Zealand for the final month of the season when both players are expected back in action.
