Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley appeared to suffer a significant turn of his right ankle in the team's previous game versus the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, but he said prior to Tuesday's contest versus the New York Knicks that the injury was feeling much better and that he would be able to suit up for the game:
Avery Bradley will play tonight against the Knicks. He said his right ankle feels a lot better
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 7, 2020
Bradley started each of the Lakers' seven previous contests, having established himself with the starting unit due to his tenacious motor on the defensive end of the floor. He has averaged just 21.9 minutes on a nightly basis since rejoining the starting five, though, averaging 7.3 points per game in that span.
The health of Bradley becomes all the more paramount in the wake of the news that LeBron James has been dealing with an illness which may force him to miss Tuesday's contest. Should James sit out his second game of the year, Bradley and all other members of the Lakers' backcourt will take on larger roles in attempting to knock off a Knicks squad that has played vastly better over its last six games.
Having inked a two-year deal with the organization back in July, Los Angeles clearly views Avery Bradley as a complementary piece to the puzzle, one that has its sights set on claiming an NBA title; his long-term health could play a significant role in that pursuit. With that in mind, the team clearly feels satisfied with Bradley's progress since sustaining his ankle ailment, giving him the green light to return to action.
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