The Los Angeles Lakers have been ravaged by injuries over the last few weeks, but arguably none hurt more than the one to starting point guard D’Angelo Russell. At the time of his injury, Russell was the team leader in scoring and assists, and his absence has been felt throughout the team.
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Russell received a PRP injection in his sore left knee and was set to be re-evaluated in two weeks. That time has come and after his re-evaluation, Russell is now taking the next step in his rehab by starting on-court work via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Luke said D'Angelo Russell was reevaluated & feels a lot better, able to start on court work but will not travel on one game trip
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 6, 2016
This is undoubtedly good news for the team as the Lakers lack playmakers right now. Russell is the best player on the team at consistently getting shots for both himself and others and the Lakers need that right now.
When Russell will actually return is still up in the air, but Walton sounded unsure that it would be this week via Mark Medina of the LA Daily News:
Luke said not a definitive timetable for Russell's return. But he said its "not probable" that would be Fri vs PHX or Sun vs NYK.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 6, 2016
The sooner Russell returns the better for the Lakers as things have really taken a turn for the worst. Backup point guard Jose Calderon will be out for the next couple of weeks as well, leaving the Lakers with very few options to choose from at the point guard position.
In hopes of leaving his bench guards intact, Walton decided to start rookie Brandon Ingram at point guard with veteran Metta World Peace at the shooting guard, but that didn’t go the way he had hoped.
Nonetheless, Russell is getting closer to returning and once he and the rest of the injured Lakers get back to full strength, the team can get back to what allowed them to start off so well this year.