Sixers: Potential big man draft option diagnosed with career-threatening injury
The Sixers may have thought about drafting big man Jonathan Jeanne, but his NBA dreams could be halted.
Jonathan Jeanne’s draft stock was gaining momentum immensely in recent months. The long, athletic big could have been a perfect second-round or late first-round option for many teams, even the Sixers. Philadelphia still must find a good rebounding and defensive center, and Jeanne would have been a great option.
Unfortunately, it was announced he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, the same condition that kept Isaiah Austin away from professional basketball for two seasons. The disease is a career-threatening one, so Jeanne’s career could be over before it even started.
Jeanne is a high-potential center who shows an ability to make momentum-changing plays at just 19-years old. His energy would have bolstered the Sixers bench, while giving them a prospect that could end up being a gem.
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The first priority must be health, however. And if it means Jeanne’s dream is halted, keeping him healthy is of the upmost importance. We, as basketball fans, can only hope Jeanne’s fate ends up like Austin’s, and he’ll be able to once again chase his dreams. The rare genetic syndrome plagues 1 in 5,000 people, and has the potential to become life-threatening.
So while the Sixers search elsewhere for front-court help, Jeanne will be fighting this syndrome to once again become a hot commodity in professional basketball. Just a teenager chasing his dreams, there’s no telling if the NBA will recognize Jeanne the same way they did with Austin, and honoring him on draft night.
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The hope will be the league will once again hear Jeanne’s name circling around in a positive way. Jeanne’s talents placed him in a highly-competitive French league at a young age. And that talent won’t go to waste or be forgotten. Who knows, maybe the Sixers make a nice gesture with one of their plentiful second-round picks?