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Two days before the oil-rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that caused one of the worst environmental disasters in history, Jazz center Memo Okur tore his Achilles' tendon.
That was the last time he played five-on-five basketball — until Tuesday.
Exactly 220 days after his Achilles' snapped April 18 during a first-round playoff series against Denver, Okur participated in a full contact scrimmage.
It promised to be an emotional morning for the veteran.
"I have been waiting for this moment for the last several months — to get better and play with my teammates," Okur said before practice. "So maybe I'm a little nervous and a little excited."
According to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, Okur has done well in recent on-court appearances. After the session, the Jazz reported Okur had participated without incident. There is still no timetable for his return to the active roster, though.
"We're not trying to push him," Sloan said. "We're not in a desperate situation. And it's regardless, because the player's more important than us and we try to approach it that way."
Point guard Deron Williams was admittedly "curious" about Okur's ability to go five-on-five.
"We're definitely missing Memo," he said. "He makes life easier on a lot of people."
Get dressed, get ready to play
Despite being banged up and dealing with heavy legs, Williams finished with 12 points and nine assists in 34 minutes during a home win against Sacramento on Monday.
"A guy puts his uniform on, I expect him to play," Sloan said. "If a guy can't play, I never complain about it or cry about it — that's the way it is."
However, Williams finished 4 of 14 from the floor, and has struggled with his shot during recent games.
"We want all of our players to be able to play," Sloan said." But some nights they don't have it, and some nights they have other things that get under their skin, probably. You just have to work through the tough times, like everyday life.