Jazz's Fesenko fractures right thumb; out for season

Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko has a fractured right thumb, the Salt Lake Tribune has learned.

He will miss the remainder of the season as a result of the injury, and will be unable to play basketball for at least a month.

Fesenko injured his thumb Monday while defending teammate Paul Millsap during practice in Los Angeles. Fesenko was initially diagnosed with a jammed right thumb, and the finger was placed in a splint. A magnetic resonance imaging exam taken Tuesday night at Staples Center produced negative X-rays. The Jazz said that Fesenko had a sprained right thumb, and he did not play against the Los Angeles Lakers. Another MRI was taken Wednesday in Salt Lake City, though, confirming Fesenko's fracture.

He signed a one-year, $1 million contract last summer with the Jazz as a restricted free agent. Fesenko, 24, entered training camp slimmed down and in good shape, and has shown flashes of promise this season. But he has also been plagued by everything from foul trouble and inconsistency to a lack of focus. Fesenko acknowledged that this could be the end of his career with Utah, and is disappointed to end the season with an injury.