New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik has lost "significant weight" during an unknown illness that has kept him out of action since the All-Star break, coach Alvin Gentry said Wednesday.
"I know he's lost some significant weight," Gentry told reporters prior to the team's 109-86 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday. "He's the type of guy that if he weren't sick, he'd be here."
Gentry is unsure when Asik, who is averaging 2.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 31 games, will return for the Pelicans, but the coach did say that there weren't any long-term concerns about the 7-footer's health.