Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle has revealed that he would like to play at the Summer League as he continues to work towards a return from injury.
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Randle has outlined his plan and insists that he wants to be back for training camp later in the year, but playing in the Summer League could be an important step for him prior to that.
The former Kentucky forward was drafted seventh overall last year but played just 14 minutes for the Lakers in their season opener before suffering a fractured right tibia.
Meanwhile, the organisation also signed off foot surgery to clear up a problem dating back from his college days, and so the 20-year-old will be hopeful that his injury woes are behind him and he can push on next season.
“The plan is to be ready for training camp,” Randle said during exit interviews at the Lakers’ practice facility Tuesday.
“Short-term goal: summer league. But we have to work up to that.”
“Even though I didn’t get to play [this season], it was still a huge learning process. I got a lot out of it. Obviously I wanted to play, but the valuable things I learned this year I wouldn’t give away.”
Randle revealed that he often spoke with Paul George as they both went through their recoveries from broken legs, while he also leaned on Kobe Bryant as the Lakers legend went through his own rehabilitation later in the year after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The Lakers rookie revealed that Bryant checked on him every day to give him confidence and to ensure that his rehab was going well, and so the veteran star will be hopeful that both he and rookie guard Jordan Clarkson can build on this year and come back stronger next season which could be his final campaign in the NBA.
It remains to be seen whether or not the organisation give the green-light for Randle to play in the Summer League, but it would certainly give him an opportunity to find his rhythm and conditioning with some game-time before joining up with the rest of the team ahead of next season.
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