Rookie Nerlens Noel is likely to miss the entire season for the 76ers, coach Brett Brown said Monday. "I doubt, everybody doubts that he's going to play this year," Brown said before the team's exhibition game with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.
The coach said no official decision has been made regarding the 6-foot-11 center, who still is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Noel was not available to comment.
The Sixers acquired Noel from New Orleans in a draft-day trade for all-star point guard Jrue Holiday. At the time, Noel was expected to be sidelined until December while he recovered from the injury, suffered in February during his lone season at Kentucky.