The 2014 NBA Draft just got a lot more interesting.
Former Kansas center Joel Embiid, who was projected to be the No. 1 pick, has suffered a foot injury just days before this year’s draft, his agent Arn Tellem confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
“He suffered a foot injury to his right foot sometime over the last few days,” Tellem told ESPN’s Andy Katz by phone. “He’s getting evaluations from various doctors and experts in the field. We’ll know more Friday.”
While the severity of Embiid’s injury is unknown at this time, one source told ESPN.com that it “may be broken.”
Tellem added that it is unlikely Embiid will participate in any more workouts before the draft. The 7-foot Embiid was scheduled to work out for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the second-overall pick, later this week.
The Cameroon native already worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who hold the No. 1 pick, earlier this month and his medical testing with the team came back with no reason for concern.
Embiid did miss some time at the end of the Jayhawks’ season due to a back injury that kept him out of  the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. If his foot injury is serious enough, though, and he ends up slipping in the draft order, the Cavs will likely turn their attention to Duke forward Jabari Parker or Kansas wing Andrew Wiggins with the top pick.
The 20-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks this past season as a freshman at Kansas.
UPDATE (3:40 p.m.):Â Looks like Embiid’s foot is, in fact, fractured. He’ll undergo surgery Friday.
[tweet https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/479704214751285249 align=’center’]
Photo via Twitter/@ESPNNBA
