Photo Credit: Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports
The hits just keep on coming for the Los Angeles Lakers. Rookie Julius Randle is likely done for the season after breaking his leg just minutes after making his NBA debut. A down year for the Lakers, just got even worse as Randle was one of the only bright spots for this team. The injury comes just days after it was announced that veteran point guard Steve Nash would also sit out the entire season.
Randle suffered a clean break in his right tibia and had surgery this morning. The initial diagnosis was Randle would be sidelined for 4-6 months, but he will be re-evaluated after the surgery. Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who missed almost all of last season with injuries, spoke on the incident. He said, “Even for myself, being a veteran and dealing with something like this, it’s tough. For him being a 19-year-old kid, it’s tough. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to pick him up and take it day by day.”
Randle’s teammates gathered around him as he grabbed his leg and waited for the stretcher to take him off the court. Head coach Byron Scott added that this will test his character, but told him to stay strong as tears rolled down his cheek. The Lakers lost last night’s game 108-90 to the Houston Rockets. The Lakers, who admittedly are in a rebuilding year, just caught a tough break as Randle was likely their next star.
