Australia's No.1 NBA draft pick Ben Simmons has had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot.
Philadelphia 76ers team officials said on Tuesday that Simmons went through the procedure in New York.
There is no timetable yet for his return, however early reports suggested Simmons could be sidelined for at least three months.
But his agent Rich Paul, who also manages LeBron James, reportedly said he would not let the 20-year-old play this season, even if he was cleared to return.
"That's an injury that you don't mess around with, and (Paul) thinks he's going to keep him off his feet all year," Philadelphia Daily News basketball reporter Bob Cooney told radio station 97.5 The Fanatic.
Simmons fractured the fifth metatarsal bone during the 76ers' final training camp last week.
The injury is the latest blow for a franchise that has had several injuries to key players, plus losing streaks of 26 and 28 games over the past three seasons.
Simmons, the 208cm, 109kg forward out of LSU, was scheduled to start for the Sixers in their pre-season opener on Tuesday against Boston.
Simmons was Philadelphia's first No. 1 overall pick since they drafted Allen Iverson in 1996.
