D’Angelo Russell has been out of the Lakers lineup with a sore left knee, and his team has struggled losing 4 of 5 games since his departure. Russell has undergone platelet-rich-plasma treatment on his left knee, but there has been no timetable set for his return. Here is what Russell told the Orange County Register on when he might come back:
Definitely don’t want to force anything back,” said Russell, who will be re-evalauted later in the week. “I feel like I got to be 100 percent perfect before I step back on the floor.
Russell also shared that he has been experiencing knee pain since the start of this season:
Russell reported he did not feel that way even before the 2016-17 season started. He said his knee felt “off and on,” though he “didn’t think it was anything serious.” Russell then experienced more pain last week whenever he planted his feet and made sharp movements.
It’s a smart move by the Lakers and Russell to make sure he is 100% healthy before returning to action. Russell was on the verge of a breakout season before his injury, so it’s best not to risk further injury to a potential superstar.