The Atlanta Hawks announced Sunday that two-way forward Eli Ndiaye will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. The update was shared via the team’s official account following further medical evaluation.
According to the Hawks, Ndiaye sustained a left shoulder subluxation during a December 9 game for the College Park Skyhawks at Long Island. An MRI conducted at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a torn labrum.
The organization confirmed that Ndiaye will have surgery in early January and will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season. The injury removes him from both the NBA and G League rotations for the rest of the year.
Ndiaye, who went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, signed a two-way contract with Atlanta prior to the season. The arrangement allowed him to split time between the Hawks and their G League affiliate while continuing his development.
Before joining the NBA, Ndiaye built his résumé with Real Madrid, where he spent four seasons across the senior team and the reserve side. He was part of the club’s EuroLeague championship roster during the 2022–23 season.
Over his EuroLeague career, Ndiaye appeared in 67 games and averaged 10.5 minutes per contest. He posted career shooting splits of 44.9 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three-point range while contributing 2.0 rebounds per game.
His role expanded gradually with Real Madrid, culminating in the 2024–25 campaign, when he averaged 14.0 minutes, 3.6 points, and 2.4 rebounds per game. That progression positioned him as a developmental target for NBA teams seeking frontcourt depth.
This season with College Park, Ndiaye played nine games and averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per outing. He shot 42.4 percent from the field while being used primarily as an energy forward and rebounder.
For Ndiaye, the focus now shifts to rehabilitation and recovery ahead of the 2026–27 season. Shoulder labrum surgeries typically require several months of rehab, making a full offseason program critical for his return.
