The Lakers feared a fractured right wrist for promising second-year forward Larry Nance Jr., but an MRI has revealed a much more promising prognosis
Though second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell may have been the star for the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2016 NBA Summer League, it’s been another second-year player whose energy and production has continued to surprise and turn heads: forward Larry Nance Jr.
In the Lakers first loss of Summer League against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, though, Nance was attacking the rim late in the game when he ultimately was fouled routinely in the air, but came tumbling to the ground in an awkward manner. He was then left in a heap on the floor and walked to the locker room in pain.
After the game on Thursday night, it was initially reported that the Lakers hyper-athletic young forward had suffered a fractured right wrist and would be out 6-8 weeks. As reported by Mike Trudell of TWC Sportsnet though, an MRI and exam by the Lakers team doctor on Friday confirmed that it was instead a sprain rather than a fracture:
Great news on the Nance, Jr. front: Results of exam/MRI by LAL Dr.‘s showed a sprained right wrist, but no fracture or ligament damage.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 15, 2016
The last part of that is also encouraging with no ligament damage being suffered as that’s clearly the second concern if there’s no fracture.
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While a fractured wrist wouldn’t have been the end of the world for Larry Nance Jr. considering that he almost surely could’ve returned to action before training camp begins for the Lakers, it’s much more promising that he’ll have more time to train and further develop once he recovers from this sprain to try and get his game back rolling and take strides forward along with the other Lakers.
So while the collective fanbase of the Lakers held their breath on Thursday night and then received what appeared to be bad news about Nance, breathe a sigh of relief now. All is well and it’s all going to be well—Nance is just going to want to make sure to have a bit softer landings after his strong attacks going forward.