Vitor Faverani undergoes surgery

by **112288** Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:24 pm

ESPNBOSTON.COM

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

BOSTON -- Boston Celtics rookie center Vitor Faverani underwent season-ending knee surgery Friday, the team announced.

Faverani, sidelined since early February with swelling in his knee, had left knee arthroscopy to repair a torn lateral meniscus at New England Baptist Hospital. The procedure was performed by Celtics team physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by Jason Rand, PAC.

Faverani averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds over 13.2 minutes per game over 37 appearances during his rookie season. The Brazilian import started fast in his rookie season, but playing time diminished and he spent time bouncing between the Celtics and Maine Red Claws of the D-League. He was on assignment with the Claws when he suffered the knee injury on Feb. 4 in Delaware. With Maine, Faverani averaged 12.8 points and 9 rebounds over 25 minutes per contest in four appearances.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said recently that swelling had persisted in Faverani's injured knee and that the team had contemplated a scope to further assess his discomfort. The surgery comes on the heels of veteran Gerald Wallace undergoing season-ending surgery for his own torn meniscus on Tuesday.

Faverani is under contract for two more seasons, the final of which is nonguaranteed. The Celtics used a portion of their midlevel exception to sign the 25-year-old big man last summer.

112288