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Carlisle: Noel to miss 'several weeks' for thumb surgery

Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel needs surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Wednesday.

"He'll be out for several weeks," Carlise said, according to Bobby Karalla of Mavs.com. "I don't know how long."

Noel missed the past five games and had seen his playing time slashed to virtually nil even before the injury. He hasn't played more than six minutes in a game since Nov. 4, averaging just 12.5 per game for the season.

He and Carlisle have seemingly had their differences this year, with the coach explaining that "minutes are earned" in regards to Noel's recent relegation to deep-bench duty. The organization as a whole is reportedly down on Noel's work ethic.

The most bizarre incident in the Noel saga occurred Saturday, when he ventured to the media center at the Mavs' arena to get a halftime hot dog midway through the team's win over the Los Angeles Clippers - a game he did not end up playing in.

Carlisle ultimately played down the hot dog event, and says he's been impressed with Noel's professionalism during a trying season.

"He's been very professional with the exception of the hot dog incident the other night, which we all had fun with," Carlise said Wednesday, according to MassLive's Jay King. "That's over with now. And he realized that was a mistake."

It's been a nightmare of a contract year for the 23-year-old, who reportedly turned down a four-year, $70-million offer sheet from Dallas in the offseason before eventually having to settle for a one-year, $4.1-million qualifying offer.

Across 18 games, he's averaging four points and 4.1 rebounds for the 7-17 Mavs.

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