The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with multiple injury issues right now. Both Julius Randle and Nick Young missed Friday night’s game against the Warriors, but the most serious of the bunch is the knee issues that have bothered point guard D’Angelo Russell.
After missing two games, Russell received a PRP injection in his left knee that will knock him out for at least two weeks.
Russell spoke to the media for the first time since the injection, saying he didn’t want to force anything and has to be 100 percent before he returns according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
D'Angelo Russell on his return: "I don't want to force anything…I feel like I gotta be 100% perfect before I step on the floor."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 26, 2016
Russell also revealed that he had been dealing with knee issues off and on since the start of the season, but simply didn’t think it was anything serious via Winters:
D'Angelo Russell said he had been dealing with knee pain on and off since the start of the season but didn't think it was anything serious
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 26, 2016
Even though he won’t be playing, Russell does plan on traveling with the team on their upcoming four game road trip and receive treatment during the trip.
Russell is smart to make sure that he doesn’t rush back from this knee injury as the last thing he or the Lakers need is for this injury to become something that lingers on throughout the rest of the season or further. The NBA is littered with examples of players ruining their career by rushing back from knee (or ankle or foot) injuries and Russell does not want to be added to that list.
It is good to see that Russell wants to travel with the team and be with them on this upcoming road trip. General Manager Mitch Kupchak spoke about Luke Walton instilling a selflessness within this team and Russell not wanting to stay home is another example of how close this team is.