Andre Drummond's missing toenail is far more than just a cosmetic concern, according to Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.
“He’s still having trouble putting his shoe on the first two days through it,” Vogel told reporters via Zoom, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “He’s just not there yet. He’s still in a great deal of discomfort and we want to make sure that this thing gets behind him.”
For a team that has dealt with significant injuries to its star players throughout the season, Drummond's addition to the club was meant to provide added depth to a roster that had grown increasingly thin. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that depth was relatively short-lived.
The injury occurred near the end of the first quarter of his debut with the team last Wednesday. He suffered the injury when Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez stepped on his right foot. While Drummond said he initially felt some discomfort, he continued to play throughout the second quarter until he removed his sock at halftime to discover the toenail was completely missing. Even with X-rays coming back negative for a toe fracture, the Lakers training staff opted to withhold the center from the lineup in the second half due to swelling.
Despite the Lakers' initial prognosis indicated that Drummond was only expected to miss one or two games due to the injury, Vogel's revelation that the big man was still experiencing significant discomfort may be a sign that that timetable is extended.
In a season of twists and turns, the Los Angeles Lakers now find themselves waiting on the toenail of Andre Drummond.
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