Lakers news: Anthony Davis’ possible return date, Russell Westbrook injury, Bojan Bogdanovic rumors
By Jason Reed
Things have been mostly positive for the Los Angeles Lakers since the turn of the calendar year. Los Angeles rode a five-game winning streak to kick off 2023 that ended on Monday night at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
One loss to the best team in the Western Conference (without LeBron James, keep in mind) should not be enough to kill the good vibes around this team right now. While the Lakers still have a lot of work to do, things are looking up.
The next month is going to be the most important month of the season. Anthony Davis could be returning soon and the Lakers have to figure out their identity one way or another before the trade deadline. That makes every bit of Lakers news more impactful than during other points in the year.
Lakers news roundup:
- According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are ramping up Anthony Davis’ rehab to potentially return to play when the team returns to Los Angeles. The Lakers’ next game is in LA on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. That is the start of a five-game homestand that lasts through next Friday.
- Russell Westbrook said that he dislocated his right pinky finger in the first half of Tuesday’s game against Denver and that he popped it back into place twice. X-rays came back negative.
- According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers thought that the price of Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and an unprotected first was too steep for Bojan Bogdanovic. With that being the likely asking price for Bogdanovic, don’t expect the Lakers to trade for him anytime soon.
- ICYMI: LeBron James responded to Sam Amick’s reporting about what James recently said during an interview with reporters.
Hey Sam actually my patience isn’t waning. You make it sound like I’m frustrated when I’m really not. I told you over and over, my job is focused on the guys in the locker room, my job isn’t the roster. That’s the reality of that conversation. And I said what I said with the https://t.co/NocLse0dVf
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 8, 2023
NBA news roundup:
- Kevin Durant sprained his ACL and is expected to miss at least two weeks. The same injury sidelined Durant for six weeks last season. The Brooklyn Nets are 27-13 with Durant playing at an MVP level, averaging 29.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
- Stephen Curry is listed as probable to return on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns. Curry last played on December 14. The Warriors are currently 20-20 and are 6-5 since his injury.
- The Sacramento Kings set a franchise record in three-pointers made in a game on Monday night, sinking 23 shots in 46 attempts from beyond the arc. It is the 13th time a team has made 23 or more threes in a game this season. Prior to the 2010-11 season, only one team in NBA history had a game with 23 or more threes: the Orlando Magic.
