Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid will miss the whole of the 2015-16 NBA season through injury.
The 21-year-old suffered a broken bone in his foot last year and missed the entire campaign after undergoing surgery.
However, the issue is not yet solved and Embiid was forced to have a second procedure this week which will rule him out for between five and six months.
President Sam Hinkie told reporters: "If we all do our part this will end in a way in which Joel can achieve all his dreams for having a really long, really fantastic NBA career.
"Nobody has talked me off of that just yet. Do we have reason to be concerned? Of course. But no one has told me that's still not in the cards."
Embiid played 28 college games for the Kansas Jayhawks.
