Olympiacos guard Jan Montero out for six months after left knee meniscus surgery

Six-month absence after surgery

Olympiacos confirmed on Friday, 30 October, that guard Jan Montero had undergone surgery on his left knee and would be out for about six months. The operation repaired the meniscus, although reports differ on which part was affected: the club's statement, as printed in several Greek outlets, names the lateral meniscus, while SKAI described the medial one. The procedure was kept out of the public eye, and the club announced the outcome later that day. The club's statement read:

“Jan Montero underwent surgery today to repair the meniscus in his left knee. He is expected to be out of competition for six months.”

An early estimate that proved too optimistic

Before the operation, early assessments had pointed to arthroscopy and an absence of about one month. Konstantinos Melagies, speaking on BIG4 by Betsson, said the injury was more serious than a simple knock and that the conservative approach agreed by the club and the player had not delivered the results they expected.

“Montero has a meniscus injury in his knee. The conservative treatment that Olympiacos and the player agreed to follow did not produce the results they expected.”

Melagies also said there had been some improvement, though less than hoped, and that the best-case scenario he had outlined was an absence of about one month, with a decision expected by Sunday, 1 November. Dominican journalist José Nina Tejada, who first shared the news on Twitter, said Montero had received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy without the expected result and that the problem then worsened, which led to the choice of surgery.

Impact on the season

Montero had started the EuroLeague season strongly, averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals across six games. He played 23 minutes and 58 seconds per game in those appearances. SKAI described the guard as one of the heavier pieces of the roster and wrote that he would miss not only the regular season but also the EuroLeague playoffs. The outlet described Olympiacos as the Greek and European champions, a team now without one of its key guards for most of the campaign.

Points15.5

Rebounds3.5

Assists4.5

Steals1.2

Points

15.5

Rebounds

3.5

Assists

4.5

Steals

1.2

Data from the article text

What happens next

The club's statement said the wider Olympiacos basketball family wished Montero a smooth and speedy recovery and looked forward to seeing him back on the court. Rehabilitation now begins, with the stated aim of a full return to competition. Melagies said such situations can change, since clubs often limit the information they release because of medical confidentiality. Earlier on Friday, Olympiacos had been due to face Armani at 21:15 in a game broadcast on Novasports Prime, so the squad will have to adjust its rotation without him.