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The Los Angeles Lakers' problems just got from bad to worse after rumors began circulating about LeBron James potentially being forced to sit out for up to at least two months due to an abdominal injury. LA is in dire need of some good news right now, and incidentally, this might just come in the form of Talen Horton-Tucker.
THT has yet to make his season debut for the Lakers following an offseason procedure on his right thumb. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old appears to be nearing his return with Horton-Tucker making significant progress in his road to recovery (h/t Sam Leweck of Lakers Daily):
Talen Horton-Tucker will begin contact practice on Tuesday, per Frank Vogel. Horton-Tucker has been out since the preseason following thumb surgery. Vogel said THT will have to be worked back in when fully cleared, but will certainly be a part of the rotation.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 8, 2021
This is definitely a positive update for the Lakers considering how they've pretty much been obliterated with injuries of late. Anthony Davis is currently day-to-day with a thumb sprain and a stomach illness while LeBron, as mentioned earlier, could be out for a much longer period than expected. Offseason additions Kendrick Nunn and Trevor Ariza are also out of action, without a timetable for their return.
As for Horton-Tucker, he is no messiah, but he might just be the spark the Lakers need right now. To be clear, however, LA has yet to pencil in a return date for the 6-foot-4 shooting guard. Nevertheless, he has been making significant strides during practices of late.
Talen Horton-Tucker doing some dribbling with his right hand at Monday morning shootaround. pic.twitter.com/D3gltCiZMM
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) November 8, 2021
Horton-Tucker speaks out on his road to recovery as he admitted just how excited he is to return to action:
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“Mentally I’m just trying to stay positive through everything,” he said, via Damian Burchardt of Lakers Nation. “Just the competitor in me wants to get out there. I’m just making progress. Cleared for contact tomorrow, so being able to get out there and move around with my teammates, so I’m excited for that.
“Of course, I want to get out there and use my youth, but I’m listening to the training staff and I trust them and my therapist is the greatest. So being able to have people like that is good for me, so I’m appreciative of it.”
THT is one of the youngest guys on a Lakers roster that literally stands as the oldest in the entire NBA. For his part, the third-year guard fully appreciates the value of being part of a team that has a wealth of experience:
“I’ve always said just being around a group like this is going to be key for my growth,” Horton-Tucker said.
“Being able to watch and be around; not even playing now just being able to watch and see how guys move has been great for me. It’s actually good just to see the ups and downs also.”
Horton-Tucker is saying all the right things right now as he looks to take in all that he can while playing alongside some of the greatest players of this generation. Hopefully, his sponge-link attitude translates to a significant impact on the basketball court.
It remains to be seen when Talen Horton-Tucker will finally make his season debut for the Lakers, but what cannot be denied is that he's closing in on a return to action — right when LA needs it the most.
