Despite knowing he had yet to recover from a March knee surgery, Portland Trail Blazers forward Moe Harkless vowed to be back for the season-opener.
“I’ll be back,” Moe Harkless said on Wednesday, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I’ll be ready.”
Harkless had revealed that his knee wasn't fully healed during Monday's Media Day, making this statement quite the surprise for those aware of his recovery schedule.
The small forward is hoping to take on at least one of the team's five preseason games, including the season-opener on Oct. 18 against the new look Los Angeles Lakers, now led by LeBron James.
“That’s the plan,” said Harkless.
Harkless took part in only 75 percent of the action during the latest morning practice, then taking part in full on-court activities with the team for the evening.
“And today, I woke up and felt fine,” Moe Harkless said Wednesday. “So I did the same thing today, and even added more.”
“We have to watch the load. I’ll do everything, then we will say, that’s enough running, jumping and pounding, and I will go to the weight room to strengthen it. It’s been a process, but I feel like we are moving in the right direction. I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at.”
If everything falls in line, the Blazers should have their starting core fully ready to welcome the Lakers into the 2018-19 season, giving James his first taste of Western Conference grit — likely only of many throughout a grueling 82-game season.
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