Oklahoma City Thunder centre Kendrick Perkins is expected to miss six weeks of the NBA season after undergoing successful surgery on his left groin, the team said on Tuesday.
The 11th-year NBA big man, who helped the Boston Celtics capture the league crown in 2008, would return only in the final days of the regular season under that timetable.
Perkins suffered the injury last Thursday when he and Miami Heat forward Shane Battier became tangled during the Thunder's home loss.
MRI scans confirmed the groin strain for Perkins, averaging 3.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 54 games for the Thunder this season.
Steven Adams, a 20-year-old rookie from New Zealand, started in Perkins' place on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers and will likely fill that role in the veteran's absence.
Adams, the 12th overall pick in last year's NBA Draft and the first Kiwi chosen in the opening round of the draft, is averaging 3.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in a reserve role.
