Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma suffered an ankle injury while playing for Team USA during the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He has been sidelined for the last two months as a result, but he ‘optimistic' about the recovery process.
“I haven't really been doing too much, really, for the last two months, so just being able to shoot jump shots and being around the team a little bit more, it's optimistic, for sure,” Kuzma said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
It remains unknown when exactly Kuzma will be able to return to the lineup. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel recently explained that Kuzma is currently doing ‘no-contact, half-court' work right now. The next step could include ‘no-contract, full-court' activities or ‘half-court with contact.'
“There's a progression,” Vogel said. “He's on no-contact, half court now. I'm sure we'll build up to no-contact, full court with sprinting or potentially half court with contact. I'm not sure which direction they're going to take it next, but there will be a progression this week building him up.”
The Lakers are expected to use a starting lineup that features Avery Bradley, Danny Green, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and JaVale McGee while Kuzma remains sidelined. There is a possibility that Vogel will decide to slide Davis to the center spot and start Kuzma, but that remains to be seen.
Regardless of when Kuzma returns to game action, he is expected to play a key role for the Lakers. He will just need to get healthy and avoid being ‘impatient' with the process.
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