D’Angelo Russell hasn’t played since Nov. 11 while dealing with knee problems that eventually required arthroscopic surgery. And while he is traveling with the Brooklyn Nets on their latest road trip, he doesn’t know when he’ll actually be returning to the rotation.
From the New York Post‘s Brian Lewis:
D’Angelo Russell doesn’t have any idea when he’ll be ready to get back on the court. But the injured point guard joined his teammates on the current trip, with Russell, coach Kenny Atkinson and the other Nets saying it can only be a good thing to have him around, involved and engaged during his rehab.
“I’m feeling better and better every day. So yeah, it’s cool,” said Russell, who saw the Nets bet the Grizzlies 98-88 on Sunday at FedEx Forum. “I don’t know [the timeline]. Really, honestly I’m just trying to stay healthy and get as strong as I can before I get back out on the floor. It’s definitely not something I want to rush. …. I’m not really forcing anything, just doing what the trainers tell me day in and day out and go from there, see how I feel every day.”
Recoveries from arthroscopic surgeries can be tricky, and Russell’s timeline is complicated by both the Nets and their situation. They aren’t competing for anything special now in the aftermath of a hot start; they still look primed to finish with a bottom-five or -seven record. This regime has expressed extreme caution over the health of its players, and Russell is their greatest undertaking to date—a top-two prospect who carries the upside they’ve been unable to obtain through the draft, thanks to a seemingly never-ending string of obligations to the Boston Celtics (that will dissipate after this summer).
Though the Nets no doubt want to get an extensive look at Russell now, since he’s extension-eligible this summer, bet on them slow-playing his rehab. They’re playing the long game. They won’t rush him back merely because Jeremy Lin is done for the season and Spencer Dinwiddie needs help at point guard that he isn’t getting from Isaiah Whitehead or Sean Kilpatrick.
Indeed, Brooklyn said it believes Russell will play again this season. And perhaps he will. But don’t be surprised if he doesn’t.
Basically, if you’re a Nets fan, brace yourself for an indefinite absence.
