Emoni Bates undergoes knee surgery

Oct 8, 2024 12:12 PM

Cavaliers two-way wing Emoni Bates underwent arthroscopic surgery on Monday to address a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to an official team press release.

The statement indicates that Bates will be reevaluated in approximately one month to assess his recovery progress.

Following the surgery, Bates shared an update on social media, posting a picture from his hospital bed with a smile. He reassured fans by stating it was a “slight tear” and expressed confidence, saying he would “be back stronger n better”.

Bates, who was also on a two-way deal during his rookie season last year, re-signed with Cleveland in August as a restricted free agent after receiving a qualifying offer from the team.

The 20-year-old was a former five-star recruit and was drafted 49th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, following inconsistent college performances at both Memphis and Eastern Michigan.

In his rookie season with Cleveland, Bates appeared in only 15 games, averaging 2.7 points per game while shooting 30.6% from the field in 8.9 minutes per contest.

However, Bates showed more potential during his time in the G League with the Cleveland Charge.

In 27 Showcase Cup and regular season games, he averaged an impressive 21.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, with shooting splits of .414 from the field, .371 from three-point range, and .814 from the free-throw line.