After a disheartening season which was marred with injuries and a misfit roster, the Lakers knew that they had to make some big changes for the upcoming season. Pulling off a massive trade and adding some underrated young players and well known veterans, the Purple and Gold looked set.
Given that the Lakers had a long off-season at their hands, the team saw their biggest stars return to full fitness. Be it LeBron James coming back leaner and faster or Davis with a fully healed thigh, the Lakers’ looked set to look past their injury-laden season.
But it seems injuries haven’t left the team, though with many of their role players have suffered from injuries. Be it Malik Monk enduring a groin strain injury or Trevor Ariza recovering from a surgery, the Purple and Gold have some serious injury woes.
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Lakers’ injury woes worsen with latest injuries
Ever since the pre-season has begun for the Lakers, injuries have become a constant for them. While Malik Monk started off his life with the Lakers in incredible fashion, he suffered from a groin strain and is doubtful for the start of the season.
The team’s injury woes have worsened it seems. The latest player to suffer from an injury setback is Talen Horton-Tucker. The 20-year-old who missed the latest pre-season game against the Suns with a right thumb sprain, has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb.
Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker has a torn ligament in his right thumb and will undergo surgery, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2021
Although there is no particular timeline to the injury as of now, a typical ligament injury generally takes about 6-8 weeks to recover. Given that their big three haven’t played with each other till now, it will be interesting to see how the Western Conference favorites deal with these injuries.
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Fans react to Talen Horton-Tucker’s injury
Laker fans all around the world went berserk upon hearing THT’s latest injury. Given the number of players they are already missing, fans are worried whether this team can succeed or not.
retirement home already collapsing
— NFTP (@NumbFromThePain) October 11, 2021
THT is 20 years old… pic.twitter.com/6bizQGGihF
— Rogue Floater (@orrsof) October 11, 2021
If this is the most common thumb ligament injury (ulnar collateral ligament) then he’ll likely have surgery with an internal brace (developed by Dr. Steven Shin in LA) added. Typical return timeline would be 6-8 weeks (for reference, Drew Brees was back in 6 with this procedure).
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) October 11, 2021
LAKERS PACK 😂😂😂
— KawhiDaGoat (@KawhiGotNext_) October 11, 2021
Yup here we go. Season ain’t even started yet and we got players already getting injured. FUCK.
— Somewhat Happy Lakers Fan (@OprahSideClark) October 11, 2021
LeSuperTeam Is Finished 😂
— 𝐸𝑑𝑒𝑛 ❼ (@nolimiteden) October 11, 2021
Bad omen if the youngest guy on the team is out for the season
— GoChargersGo10 (@GoChargersGo10) October 11, 2021
The Lakers are finished sadly
— Depressed wizard fan (@bernard_dat) October 11, 2021
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Brodie playing 48mpg in the playoffs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/v397EuEV6g
— peach (@Y2JA2) October 11, 2021
Time to call back the big guns pic.twitter.com/njBLmxAFCP
— Chooka (@Chooka2K) October 11, 2021
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This is certainly a big challenge for the Lakers. With regular season less than a couple of weeks away, the Lakers’ shooting guard position is already slim. With Monk and Horton-Tucker out, the Purple and Gold only have veteran Kent Bazemore and possibly Kendrick Nunn, who can replace Wayne Ellington as the shooting guard. Can the Lakers’ cope up with so many injuries?