The Los Angeles Lakers have been stung by the injury bug as of late.
Anthony Davis will continue to be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, while LeBron James missed Wednesday night’s win over the Miami Heat with an illness.
On top of that, it seems like the purple and gold will have to get by without one of its best players.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and coach Darvin Ham, Lonnie Walker IV is dealing with a concerning knee injury, and they didn’t offer a timeline for his return:
Darvin Ham said that Lonnie Walker IV recently began experiencing tendinitis in his knee. He said the Lakers are “bringing him along slow.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 5, 2023
“Darvin Ham said that Lonnie Walker IV recently began experiencing tendinitis in his knee. He said the Lakers are ‘bringing him along slow,'” Buha tweeted.
“The general injury and the vagueness with which Ham discussed it is concerning. The Lakers can ill afford injuries and Walker has not just been one of the breakout stars, he’s been simply one of their best players,” wrote Jacob Rude of Silver Screen & Roll. “While he isn’t exactly a wing, the team’s lack of them entirely makes Walker’s absence more impactful. He’s a wing-adjacent player which is particularly valuable to the Lakers.”
Walker signed a one-year deal with the Lakers worth roughly $6 million, and he’s put himself in a position to earn a bigger payday next summer.
He’s given them a much-needed energy boost on both ends of the floor and another athletic wing to make the most of LeBron James’ passing.
So, even though he’s not exactly a superstar, his absence could be a massive blow for a team that couldn’t afford to lose any more soldiers right now.
NEXT: Lakers Coach Comments On Dennis Schroder's Performance