Jabari Rice Undergoes Surgery: Long Layoff on the Horizon

Reyer Venezia announced on Saturday that Jabari Rice underwent surgery to treat a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, sustained during a friendly match played on September 6 against Tezenis Verona (which Tezenis won 95-83). The American now faces a lengthy layoff; to compensate for his absence, the Venice-based club has already reached an agreement with another American guard, Erick Green.

“Umana Reyer announces that player Jabari Rice has successfully undergone percutaneous screw osteosynthesis for the fracture, a procedure designed to facilitate a faster and more optimal recovery,” reads the club’s statement. The athlete will begin his rehabilitation program in the coming days under the supervision of the club’s medical and physical therapy staff. We look forward to seeing you back on the court soon, Sir!”

Born in Houston, Texas, on December 28, 1998, Sir’Jabari Rice developed his basketball skills at Thurgood Marshall High School before playing in the NCAA, first with New Mexico and then with Texas. After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, he attempted to reach the top North American league via the G League, playing for the Austin Spurs, Sioux Falls Skyforce, and South Bay Lakers.

In 2025, his career took a major turn with a move to Europe, where he established himself at Nymburk (with whom he won the Czech Republic’s national cup) before a stint in Andorra in Spain’s Liga ACB. On June 30, he signed with Reyer Venezia; however, his journey with the orange-and-gold team got off to a rocky start, as an injury will keep him out of action for at least a couple of months.