Former Michigan F Mitch McGary to miss NBA Combine with back injury
Former Michigan Wolverines power forward Mitch McGary will not be able to participate in the upcoming NBA Combine due to his ongoing back issues, per a report from ESPN’s Chad Ford.
Michigan’s Mitch McGary also will miss NBA Draft Combine. Back is better, but still not quite ready for drills & athletic testing
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) May 12, 2014
McGary helped lead the Wolverines to the 2012-13 NCAA Championship game, before succumbing to a back injury that limited him to just eight games last year and forced him to undergo season-ending surgery.
The 6-foot-10 McGary had considered coming back to Michigan, but was suspended for one year for failing a a drug test (detected for marijuana), and wouldn’t be eligible to play until the 2015-16 season had he not entered the draft.
Many NBA prospects, such as Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins, aren’t helped by the combine, as their draft status is fairly stable. But a player like McGary, who at one time was in the lottery conversation, could have benefited greatly by being able to step on the court and show that he’s ready to go.
The medical testing will absolutely be key for McGary now, because if the doctors tell NBA teams that his there is more reason for concern, he’ll slide right out of the draft picks altogether.