Kings F De’Andre Hunter out for season over after eye surgery
The Sacramento Kings lost another starter on Friday when forward De'Andre Hunter underwent season-ending surgery on his left eye, the team announced.
Hunter was playing his second game for the Kings when he sustained a retinal detachment in the third quarter of a Feb. 6 contest against the Los Angeles Clippers, according to the club.
The surgery was performed Friday by Dr. M. Ali Khan at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Roseville, Calif. Hunter is expected to make a full recovery, with another medical update due in about eight weeks, per the team.
The Kings, losers of a franchise-worst 15 straight and at the bottom of the NBA standings at 12-45, already were without stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, who had season-ending surgeries on Wednesday.
Sabonis, a three-time All-Star in the frontcourt, had an operation to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He had returned to action in mid-January after sitting out 27 games.
LaVine, a two-time All-Star guard, had been in and out of the lineup for 10 games due to a tendon injury in his right hand before selecting surgery.
Hunter, 28, started both of his games for the Kings, recording a combined 15 points, three rebounds and one assist in 51 minutes.
He was acquired on Feb. 1 in a three-time trade that sent him to Sacramento from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired guards Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis in return. The Kings also traded Dario Saric and a 2029 second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls, who moved Emanuel Miller to the Cavs for a second-round pick.
Across 45 total games (25 starts) this season, Hunter averaged 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 26.1 minutes.
Selected fourth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Hunter began his career with the Atlanta Hawks in 2019-20 and played there until he was traded to the Cavaliers for Caris LeVert and Georges Niang on Feb. 6, 2025.
Hunter has career averages of 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 29.6 minutes in 372 regular-season games (271 starts). He has averages of 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists and 30.7 minutes in 24 playoff games (16 starts).