Veteran point guard Deron Williams will not be returning to action anytime soon as the Dallas Mavericks decided to shut him down for the entire preseason due to a right calf strain.
According to ESPN, Williams suffered a left calf strain before training camp began and in what could have been his first full practice with his new team, he injured his other calf.
Because of the injury, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said Williams will be missing their preseason games although he is making progress; but there is no timetable for his return, ESPN also reported.
The right calf injury was confirmed by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken last Saturday, according to reports.
Williams signed with the Mavericks last July following the buyout of his contract from the Brooklyn Nets.
The 31-year-old point guard, who was targeted by Dallas even before the signing, said joining the Mavs is a fresh start for him after almost five seasons with Brooklyn, while also aiming to resurrect his career.
Williams was one of the cornerstones of the Nets in the past few seasons and even helped the franchise to the playoffs thrice, but along with that feat were his injuries.
The three-time All-Star has been plagued by injuries in his time with the Nets, and that was the biggest risk the Mavericks took when they signed him to a two-year, $11 million contract.
Since being part of the Mavericks, Williams has yet to suit up and play for his new team because of injuries.
The Mavs already played five games in this year's preseason and all of them were losses to the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Because of the injury, Williams is also uncertain for their 2015–16 regular season opener against the Phoenix Suns, which will be on Oct. 28.
