On Friday, Alabama coach Avery Johnson announced two of his players would miss the rest of the season due to medical issues.
Junior Nick King will spend the rest of the season recovering from the lung infection that has sidelined him since December, and sophomore Brandon Austin will miss the rest of the season due to a non-surgical procedure on his back.
“Based on communicating with the doctors the long term prognosis,” Johnson said. “He’ll [King] be just fine, but just in the short term of where we are in the season and even if the season goes through April 5th, the point is he will not be able to return this year.”
King started two games for the Crimson Tide this season (home against Charleston Southern and at Texas) and participated in five other non-conference games. He finishes the season with 23 points and 20 rebounds in 89 minutes of action.
Austin took to the court last on Dec. 29 against Stetson, and he played in four other games this season. He finishes the season with three points and three rebounds in 38 minutes of play.
“He’s [Austin] been having some back issues and he just had a procedure that will involve him missing the next three to four weeks and rehab,” Johnson said.
The Crimson Tide will hosts LSU on Saturday afternoon at 2:30.