After a strong preseason, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle provided fans with great optimism about the team’s future. Unfortunately, in the season opener against the Houston Rockets, Randle suffered a fractured tibia that kept him out for the 2014-15 NBA season.
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Along with the fractured tibia, Randle also underwent surgery to replace the screw in his right foot. After rehabbing this past season, general manager Mitch Kupchak shared good news on Bleacher Report Radio on Sunday:
Mitch Kupchak tells us that "it looks like Julius Randle has recovered completely." @BR_Radio
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With Randle ‘recovered completely’ according to Kupchak, the next step for the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft will be participating at Summer League in Las Vegas. Along with Jordan Clarkson and Tarik Black, Randle will likely be joined by the team’s three draft picks and will provide fans with a glimpse of the team’s foundation post-Kobe Bryant era.
After sitting out the entire season, it has given Randle the opportunity to study the game and improve his skill set. Along with losing a considerable amount of weight, Randle has been working to expand his game especially from the perimeter.
In six preseason games, Randle averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 18.9 minutes.
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