Sixers' Robert Covington undergoes surgery on finger

Robert Covington had minor surgery to repair a tendon in his left middle finger.

Robert Covington initially injured his finger in December 2017.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Published May 17, 2018, 1:03 p.m. ET

Sixers small forward Robert Covington underwent surgery Thursday to repair a tendon in his left middle finger.

The successful minor procedure means Covington will wear a splint on the finger, but he can begin using his hand immediately. He will be reevaluated in two to three weeks to determine "his readiness to resume basketball activities," according to a release from the Sixers.

Covington injured the finger in the third quarter of a 114-110 loss at Portland on Dec. 28. Though listed as doubtful for the next game on Dec. 30 at Denver, he returned to play and did not miss a game for the rest of the season.

Covington played in 80 games in his fifth NBA season, averaging 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Though Covington had a disappointing postseason debut, averaging just 8.1 points, the Sixers look to him as their best perimeter defender. He signed a four-year extension worth $62 million on Nov. 17 to keep him with the Sixers through the 2021-22 season.