Miami Heat forward Okaro White is out indefinitely with a foot fracture

It has just been announced that Miami Heat’s Okaro White is out indefinitely.

Bad news, Heat Nation. Yesterday, the Miami Heat officially announced that Okaro White suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot. Also known as a Jones fracture, White sustained the injury during practice on Tuesday, November 14, ahead of the Heat’s contest against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The Heat also announced that White would undergo surgery to correct the fracture. And although Miami’s training staff did not set a timetable for his return, Jones fractures are known to be troublesome leaguewide. In 2014-15, then Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant suffered a Jones fracture, and missed 17 games after surgery.

The injury is particularly troubling to the Heat, who are trying to find their footing after splitting a six-game road trip with three wins and three losses. White, who sat out the last three games at head coach Erik Spoelstra’s discretion, has played in six of Miami’s 13 games this season.

Starting in four of those six contests, the Heat called on White for defensive energy, using his six-foot-eight frame to harass opponents, allowing Hassan Whiteside to battle in the low post.

Spoelstra has confidence that White will make a speedy recovery though.

"In a statement from the Heat’s twitter account Spoelstra said, “It just kills you when you see something like this happen. He’ll be back, he has a lot of resiliency.”"

Coming off a loss to the Wizards, the Heat are treading a thin line. White’s injury increases the likelihood of needing to call on untested talent from Miami’s Gatorade League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The Heat are already nursing Rodney McGruder’s left leg stress fracture, and had to sideline Whiteside for five games earlier this year with a bone bruise in his knee.

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Spoelstra and the Heat will have to continue to tough out the season, and await a full update on White’s availability going forward.