(ThyBlackMan.com) While most of the basketball attention has been on the 2017 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, the 2017 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have the top two selections in the NBA Draft and while the Celtics are expected to take Washington guard Markelle Fultz and the Lakers likely choosing UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, there is more mystery about where some of the other prospects will be selected. 60 young men will be selected in the NBA Draft and have the opportunity to live their dreams of playing in the NBA. There is one NBA Draft prospect, Jonathan Jeanne, who is facing a significant challenge in playing in the NBA because of a recent health issue.
Jonathan Jeanne is a 19 year old center from France who was considered a first round pick.
His French background, skinny frame and potential shot blocker and rebounder had drawn comparisons to current New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca. Jeanne was considered a first round pick until he was diagnosed with a genetic connective-tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome. He received those results after he underwent an MRI during the NBA Draft combine in May. Jeanne then underwent exams that included medical, physical and genetic testing at the Cleveland Clinic. Marfan syndrome is “is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue holds all the body’s cells, organs and tissue together. It also plays an important role in helping the body grow and develop properly.” Given the extreme amount of pressure that is put on an NBA athlete’s body over the course of a long 82 game season, it makes sense how a disorder like Marfan syndrome could derail Jonathan Jeanne’s NBA opportunity. Especially considering Jeanne stands 7“2, the amount of pressure put on the joints of NBA athletes running on a court cannot be overstated.
There is a potential blueprint for Jonathan Jeanne to follow to playing basketball again in Isaiah Austin. Austin was also diagnosed with Marfan syndrome before the 2014 NBA Draft. He ended up being part of one of the most memorable moments in NBA Draft history. After working for the NBA for a couple years, Isaiah Austin was cleared by doctors to return to basketball and eventually resumed his career Some features of Marfan syndrome, like those affecting the heart and blood vessels, bones or joints, can get worse over time. This makes it very important for people with Marfan syndrome and related disorders to receive accurate, early diagnosis and treatment. Without it, they can be at risk for potentially life-threatening complications. The earlier some treatments are started, the better the outcomes are likely to be. playing basketball for FMP Belgrade, a Serbian professional basketball team in ABA Liga.
One of the positives of this difficult situation for Jonathan Jeanne is that he is only 19 years old so if he can get his health situation cleared over the next few years, he can still possibly be a NBA prospect. It is great for Jeanne’s overall health that he was diagnosed before any significant issues happened while he was playing. According to marfan.org, “” The discovery of Jonathan Jeanne’s Marfan syndrome while he was working out and preparing for the NBA actually may have saved his life, which is the most important thing.
Staff Writer; Mark Hines
