"Mehmet Okur's injury-plagued season is awhile from taking a turn for the better.

It was decided on Wednesday that Okur will miss at least the next three weeks because of his strained lower back.

That decision came after Okur visited a Salt Lake City-based back specialist, Dr. Graham Hill, who confirmed that Memo has inflammation of his chronic disc problem.

The specialist placed Okur on a back rehabilitation program, which will include lower-back rehab and cardiovascular exercise.

"Everybody that has those things happen they have to stay after it and try to stay as positive as they can and move on," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "He's never complained about work. He's always worked hard, and that's all you can do."

Okur, who has missed the past six games and 12 total in his injury-plagued season with this back injury, will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

In the meantime, the 6-foot-11 center will not play or travel with the Jazz.

The team will not give any further updates on Okur's condition until after he's been re-evaluated.

Okur missed the first 26 games of this season while rehabbing from an Achilles tendon surgery last May. He then sprained an ankle, then strained his back — something he's had problems with in the past — and has only appeared in 13 games."