The Sacramento Bee reports: Kings point guard Mike Bibby has suffered a broken foot and is expected to miss the first six to eight weeks of the season.

No information was immediately available on how Bibby suffered the injury, but he is expected to undergo surgery to repair the broken bone.

He played for 23 minutes in Thursday night's 102-92 preseason victory over Utah, scoring 10 points (sinking three of 11 shot attempts and making all four free-throw attempts).

Bibby was a crucial cog in the Kings machine in last year's NBA playoffs and was expected to take an even bigger role in the coming year.

If Bibby misses six to eight weeks, there is a possibility he will be back with the Kings by the time they meet the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time in the regular season, a Christmas Day meeting.

This is the second year in a row the Kings will open the season without a marquee player. Last year, Chris Webber sprained his ankle in the preseason and missed nearly two months.