Andre Roberson injury update: Thunder G (knee) suffers another setback

Thunder guard Andre Roberson, described Thursday as "on a really good track," instead suffered another setback in his rehab of a surgically repaired left knee and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, a team spokesman said Friday afternoon (via ESPN.com).

Roberson, 26, experienced some discomfort after landing from a jump during workouts Thursday. An MRI exam revealed what the spokesman called a small avulsion fracture.

It's the second setback in his rehabilitation of the knee, although, according to ESPN.com, "while this setback is obviously unfortunate, it doesn’t entirely reset the timetable for him to come back. In six weeks, the Thunder will have a clear picture of his expected return to play."

It's been nearly two months since he experienced the first setback in his recovery, requiring a procedure to alleviate irritation from a suture in the knee in early October.

Despite playing without Roberson, the Thunder have established the NBA's No. 1 defense (101.8 points allowed per 100 possessions).

In five NBA seasons, the 6-7 Roberson has built his reputation as a lockdown defender who can rebound, too.

In fact, in NewsOK.com's report on his workouts Thursday before he was injured, it noted, "Roberson showed brief reminders of what makes him special on defense.

"In defensive-specific drills, he made sharp cuts on closeouts and looked comfortable shuffling quickly and completing quick start-and-stop motions to stay in front of Thunder assistant Drew Jones."

Now he'll have to watch and the Thunder will have to wait.

OKC is 13-7, good for fourth place in the Western Conference, entering Friday's game against the visiting Hawks.