It seemed like a perfectly normal play. Isolated on the right wing, Randle looked his man up and down then took off using his quick first step to his right hand with a power dribble. Halfway through his move, he seemed to lose his balance, but still exploded towards the hoop, only to miss the shot and have his momentum (and what looked like a defender slightly riding him) take him to the ground. As the camera panned to the other direction, however, I noticed that Randle had not motioned to get up like most players would in that instance. Play continued the other direction and Randle still had not returned to the defensive side of the floor. On twitter, I wondered if he were hurt:
Is Randle hurt? He has not yet gotten up after going to the ground on that drive.
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) October 29, 2014
Of course, we have learned that Randle was hurt. On what can only be described as a freak of a play, Randle suffered a broken tibia on the drive. Reports from Ramona Shelburne this morning confirmed the injury:
Source says Julius Randle is having surgery this morning. It was a clean break of the tibia. Full recovery expected, but will be out a while
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 29, 2014
The fear last night was Randle could miss 4-6 months, but until surgery is done & he's evaluated again, it's hard to say for sure.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 29, 2014
If the four to six month timeline holds up, Randle’s rookie season is essentially over. Sure, he could be back in March or April, but that would be right at the tail end of the year with little to play for. Better to just sit him, let him have the entire year to rehab and regain strength and come back next year as strong as ever. That’s the hope, of course.
Hope is an interesting word here and is one of the reasons I did not (really, could not) write about Randle’s injury earlier. You see, hope is what Randle represented for me (and probably every other Lakers’ fan too). Hope of development from raw, yet skilled, big man to key contributor. Hope of the next great franchise player. Hope of turning games into watchable events from ones that, on many nights, would likely be the opposite. As I wrote in my season preview, watching this young man mature and grow with an eye on if he could develop into a mainstay contributor was enough reason to watch this team every night.
Those hopes, however, have been dashed. At least for this season. And that, all by itself, has made this season less fun in an amount wholly disproportionate than losing one player should.
As much as it’s easy to feel bad for myself or for other fans, those feelings pale in comparison to what I feel for Randle. In his first regular season professional game, with his mother in the stands, Randle made a play he’d made a thousand times before and had his leg crumple beneath him. As teammates surrounded him in attempts to check on and console him, reports on the ground say he was in severe physical pain. I can only imagine the emotional toll was (and remains) just as severe. In those moments, I would think it’s all too easy to drift into a spiral of negative thoughts — questioning not only your season, but your career. How could you not as medics need to stabilize your leg with an air cast just to be able to lift you onto a gurney to wheel you out off the court. It makes me sick for him just to type the words.
The Lakers now have multiple responsibilities. Yes, they have a season to play and owe it to themselves and the fans to go out and compete every night. Days will turn into weeks and then into months and the games will go on with winners and losers. The players who remain must leave those who cannot join them in the fray behind and compete for each other on the floor; to do their best by competing hard every night. On the other hand, they must remember Randle — a 19 year old rookie — and be there for him in a time that will surely produce some of the most difficult moments of his young life. While the team must play the games without him, the Lakers as an organization must be there for him to help him through this time by trying to ensure not only his physical, but his emotional well being. He will need a support system and the team must be a key part of that.
I spoke of hopes dashed earlier, but really they are just shifted. The new hope is that whatever greatness that was (potentially) pegged for Randle has only been delayed. In his rookie season, James Worthy suffered a similar injury (he spoke about this after the game) and noted that he turned out okay. Before Blake Griffin even played a regular season game his rookie season, he had surgery on his knee that cost him that first year. Three games into Michael Jordan’s second season, he broke his foot and missed all but 18 games. Jordan’s injury wasn’t as severe as these others (including Randle’s) but I include it here as a reminder that injuries happen and players recover to have long, full, and, hopefully, historic careers.
So get well soon, Julius Randle. Your team will miss you. Us fans will miss you. But you’ll be back and hopefully better than ever.
George Best says
If the Lakers finish bottom 5 and get to keep their 1st round draft pick next year, what happens the following year? Does Phoenix get the Lakers first round pick no matter what?
Its a shame to see Randle hurt but the Lakers will be lucky to win 25 games and I would like to see them be able to keep the pick and start the rebulding mindset as soon as possible.
Im guessing after this year, Kobe walks away from the last year of his contract and retires whether it be by choice or injury. He just cant carry this team like he used to and he wont tolerate losing yet wont ask for a trade as hes a Laker and its a shame this is how it ends.
It was a nice run.
mud says
let’s just quit the season and blame someone!
Julius will be ok. it’s a shame, but it shouldn’t be fatal.
PurpleBlood says
bummer, man – here´s to a full recovery Julius
___
`let’s just quit the season and blame someone!´ lol!
Robert says
Get well soon Julius
George: Top 5 protected in 15, Top 3 protected in 17 + 18, Unprotected in 18
mud: “quit the season” No – we have Kobe – so we still have must see basketball
Don Ford says
Just -stunned- by this news, crestfallen. Darius hits it, that Randle was the Hope for this season, the fresh, positive story worth tuning in for, the anima of this season’s Laker team.
Crap.
Will just have to turn to Clarkson, Davis, I suppose Lin for that Hope. Resignedly watch Kobe pile up numbers. Greedily eye the protected pick as a thin silver lining.
Just wait til next year !!
agree says
Kobe isn’t going to retire, I’m pretty sure he’s willing to jack up shots and collect another 24mil if he’s healthy next season.
Kobe needs to facilitate the offense not only be the offense–especially at a 35% shooting pace. Thus far anyway he looks like a less efficient scorer, which generally is bad and on this team is real bad.
The only players I really see as having potential to start building around are Lin/Davis/Clarkson and Randle. But I don’t think any of them are #1 option players nor will they be. I liked X. Henry but his a real wildcard–but thus far with healthy issues and the like isn’t looking to good.
None of the talented teams attempt to run a crap offense just for the sake of “defense” slowing things down/less long rebounds. Take any of the talented teams and have them shoot almost no three’s and try “spreading the floor” with 15 footers and they will do far worse.
If Byron’s old team the Cavs attempted to use minimal ball movement, avoid fast breaks, avoid 3’s and primary use post ups at the 15foot mark, even stacked with offensive talent they would do real bad. Sure you need talent, but you still need to have some scheme’s. What team who has a decent offense isn’t attempting to shoot a lot of 3’s (20+) and spread the floor.
Lin is nearly the only real slasher left on the Lakers at this point it seems, and he’s not Lebron James who can utterly dominate that way even against teams with good rim protectors. This offense needs lots of work, or they are going to get destroyed by the Pelican’s. Good luck scoring on Davis/Asik. We are very short-handed but clearly its not solely a personnel issue. I would rather watch a game where they might be able to have a good 3pt night and win, rather than somehow imagining our defensive stalwarts are like Dikembe’ or something.
Defense alone just doesn’t cut it anymore, the NBA went for entertainment less physical defense basketball–the 80’s are over. Sure Defense is still important, but not as important as real good offense. The Grizzlies aren’t going to win any championships just b/c they slow the pace of the game and have a bunch of great defenders. Please no more injuries and please Kobe pass the ball and please let Kobe/Clarkson/Lin jack up at least 4 three’s each. If someone gets hot and makes a few in a bunch, the other team will adjust. You can’t shoot two 3’s every quarter and expect teams to hedge out far on the 3pt land. I hope I don’t hear “smash-mouth” uttered again this season.
rr says
Found this on another site and it defends the Lakers:
“Julius Randle’s first injury was a Jones fracture; this does not cause any issue with stability of the lower leg. There is no literature that suggests anything of the sort. The forces that cause a Jones fracture and the forces that cause a tibial fracture are in completely opposite directions (inversion versus eversion of the ankle/foot).
Now, if they WERE the same and he managed to break his tibia rather than the 5th metatarsal (which is a much thinner bone) that would just be evidence that his first procedure was highly successful.
I am a physician. Any honest orthopedist will tell you that foot surgery of any kind is a dicey proposition and almost always leads to long term complications of one sort or another. Not operating on someone who is having no pain or symptoms is almost certainly the correct decision.”
Aaron says
Anonymous quotes are more likley to be accurate than when someone has their name to it. Otherwise you just get PC sound bites.
One thing we know is the Lakers head trainer has been with the team for thirty years. I am just happy he doesn’t use leeches.
Baylor Fan says
Randle was getting this year to finish growing and learn about the NBA. His injury should not change the W-L record very much. My concern is the way he fractured his bone was very unusual. It would have made more sense if he had been solidly hit by someone. Hopefully, he heals and does not have any more problems.
Renato Afonso says
While I’ve blamed the trainers and medical staff for the lack of injury prevention, this is most definitely not one of those situations. A broken bone can happen to anyone regardless of what was done to prevent injuries. Just bad luck…
BigCitySid says
“The most important aspect of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season just vanished.
Kobe Bryant’s return was the headline and Byron Scott’s homecoming to coach his favorite childhood team was a prominent theme of opening night, but both are more representative of the Lakers’ glorious past than their uncertain future. Rookie Julius Randle was the one growth stock, the player to cultivate into the next star.” J. A. Adande.
Well said J. A., that sums it up perfectly.
Aaron says
With regard to Randle’s specific injury, the only major downside appears to be the lengthy recovery timetable. Bleacher Report’s injury expert, Will Carroll, notes that Randle should be good to go without restrictions once that timetable is complete.
“Assuming the healing time is normal, that there is no involvement of cartilage or other soft tissue and that the foot is not a complicating factor, there is no reason to believe that Julius Randle will have any difficulty returning to his normal level. The injury is painful and disappointing, but there’s no impact beyond the immediate.”
Anonymous says
Small consolation but possibly a silver lining:
Due to some astute trading the Lakers had secured the #1 overall pick in the 1982 draft. James Worthy was one of the top players in college basketball, with UNC having just won the National Championship. Interestingly enough, Worthy had broken his ankle as a freshman at Chappel Hill. I recall the ankle being a topic of conversation despite Worthy’s superlative play for the remainder of his Tar Heel career. In spite of these concerns the Lakers drafted Worthy over ‘healthier’ alternatives like Dominique Wilkins and Terry Cummings.
During Worthy’s rookie NBA campaign he broke his left tibia. Unfortunately, he missed the 1983 playoffs but recovered fully by the next season. As we all know Worthy went on to be a key member of the Showtime Lakers and is a member of the Hall of Fame.
We can only hope that Julius has an equally successful Laker career.
Gurndogg says
Maybe they can try to pick up some one to replace him I read they would have 1.5 Mil. as half his pay to sign another player how bout the Lakers sign Blacthe & maybe Jordon Crawford as Nash’s replacement both are pretty good players that could help the Lakers.
Chris J says
I’m awaiting the post that claims the Randle injury was all a fake, and part of “the plan” by management to secretly tank this season…
Bill Monty says
Awesome write-up. Sobering to remember that as bummed as we are being fans, I can’t imagine being in Julius’ shoes. Gotta feel for him with his dream on hold. Get well soon Julius