Indianapolis, IN – Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters Thursday that forward Danny Granger is unlikely to be ready when the team opens its 2013-14 regular season next week.
Granger has sat out the Pacers' last three preseason games after straining his left calf against Dallas on Oct. 16. The 2008-09 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year appeared in only five contests last season due to patellar tendinosis in his left knee.
Indiana tips off its upcoming campaign Tuesday against the Orlando Magic.
"We're not expecting Danny to be ready for the start of the regular season," said Vogel. "The calf strain is still there and it's a little bit worse than [the trainers] originally thought. There's a chance he can play opening night, but it's probably unlikely."
Granger averaged 21.6 points and 5.4 rebounds for Indiana over a five-year span from 2007-12, including a career-best 25.8 points over 67 games during his lone All-Star season in 2008-09. The former first-round pick was limited to a bench role during his brief action in 2012-13, however, averaging just 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 14.8 minutes over his five appearances.
The Pacers still went 49-32 during the regular season and captured the Central Division title, with All-Star Paul George supplanting Granger as the team's top scoring option.
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