Lakers News: Darvin Ham Provides Concrete Return Date for D’Angelo Russell
Your Los Angeles Lakers, hot on the heels of collecting a second straight victory against a Western Conference competitor with a better record last night, may be getting some crucial help as soon as Friday.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that LA is hoping that starting point guard D'Angelo Russell can return to the club as soon as Friday, the 10th, against a team currently sporting an identical record, the 32-34 Toronto Raptors.
Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Ham indicated that Russell's rehabilitation is "progressing according to plan." McMenamin adds that sources informed him Russell practiced against coaches, with contact, this past Monday.
Russell departed the Lakers' 124-111 blowout win over the Golden State Warriors two weeks ago in its first quarter, after rolling his ankle over the foot of reserve Warriors shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo. He has since missed LA's past six contests. LA All-Star small forward LeBron James, meanwhile, has missed the Lakers' past five games with a right foot tendon injury.
Surprisingly, the Lakers have gone 3-2 in those games while missing both those starters, thanks in large part to the terrific two-way play of star center Anthony Davis, and the moxie of several LA role players.
Across his three full games since being flipped to the Lakers, Russell holds averages of 17.3 points on .450/.375/.769 shooting splits, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds.
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