SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 15 -- It appears the Sacramento Kings will have to begin the season without their $123 million man.
Forward Chris Webber suffered a high left ankle sprain in the first quarter of an exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks and could be sidelined four to six weeks, a club spokesman said.
The Kings open the 2001-02 campaign October 30 against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The injury could have been worse. Webber, the most coveted free agent on this summers market before re-signing with the Kings for $123 million over seven years, slipped on a wet spot under Sacramentos basket and had to be carried off the court.
X-rays taken Monday at the UC-Davis Medical Center were negative.
Last season, the All-Star power forward averaged 27.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game and led the franchise to its first playoff series win in 20 years.
Webber, 28, was sixth in the NBA in scoring and seventh in rebounding. He finished fourth in voting for Most Valuable Player.
