Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has encountered another significant injury, this time involving a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg.

Smith sustained the injury during a game on Monday night, where Miami secured a 110-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Following his exit from the game for assessment, initial evaluations suggested an Achilles tear. This was later confirmed by an MRI on Tuesday, revealing the full extent of the damage.

This marks Smith’s third season-ending injury since February 2022. This latest setback occurs just 13 months after he faced a severe injury to his right knee, which sidelined him for a substantial part of the 2023-24 season. He will soon undergo surgery to repair the Achilles, followed by an extensive rehabilitation period. Additionally, his 2021-22 season was cut short while he was with Miami’s Sioux Falls affiliate in the G League due to a knee issue.

“You never want to watch anyone suffer an injury, but our admiration for his journey and the obstacles he has faced is profound,” remarked Heat coach Erik Spoelstra prior to the confirmation of the injury’s severity. “Last year, while others were away, he dedicated himself to rigorous treatment and rehabilitation around the clock. His determination is commendable, and we all find ourselves cheering for individuals like Dru.”

Smith had been experiencing the best stretch of his brief career in the NBA. He was posting averages of 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals over 19.1 minutes per game, setting personal records in each of those statistical categories. Smith was operating under a two-way contract, with the potential for it to be upgraded to a standard NBA contract — which could have potentially increased his earnings from $578,577 to just below $1.2 million.

His 2023-24 season came to an end when he tore his ACL in his right knee after slipping on a raised section of the floor next to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench on November 22, 2023. That incident also required a surgical procedure and would necessitate several months of rehabilitation. Before the injury, Smith was included in Miami’s rotation, having participated in nine of the team’s first 15 games.

Throughout his brief NBA career, Smith has averaged 4.5 points across 38 games played with the Miami Heat and Brooklyn. He has been a part of the Heat’s training camp each season for the past four years.