The Los Angeles Lakers have been bit by the injury bug lately, as it was recently announced that point guard Jose Calderon will miss the next 2-4 weeks with a hamstring strain.
Calderon joins starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, who is currently out with a knee injury, starting shooting guard Nick Young who is sidelined with a calf strain and power forward Larry Nance Jr. who is dealing with a knee contusion.
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The Lakers are perhaps more equipped than any other team in the league to deal with injuries though, due to their depth at all positions.
With so many players out, the Lakers need some more bodies to fill out the roster and they are doing just that by recalling rookie Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles D-Fenders according to the D-Fenders Official Twitter Page:
OFFICIAL: The Los Angeles @Lakers have recalled rookie Ivica Zubac. He averaged 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds in six games with the #DFenders. pic.twitter.com/w8TT1LAa7j
— L.A. D-Fenders (@DFenders) December 5, 2016
Zubac began the season with the Lakers, but it was tough for head coach Luke Walton to find the rookie minutes, so he was sent down to the D-League to get some playing time and stay in shape.
In his six games with the D-Fenders Zubac played extremely well as he averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 60.9 percent from the field. In his last two games he had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and 21 points and nine rebounds respectively.
Although Calderon is a point guard, his injury opens up rotation minutes that could possibly go to Zubac if Walton chooses to play big, and also benefits Marcelo Huertas as he is now the team’s only healthy pure point guard.
