LA Lakers injury report: Looking at players who could miss season opener for Purple and Gold
The LA Lakers could be without six players for their season opener Tuesday night. They will open the 2022-23 season by playing against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, California.
Playing against the defending NBA champions will be challenging. But playing against them without six players almost seems like an impossible mission.
This article will reveal the complete LA Lakers injury report. We will take a deeper look at all the injured players and their probability of suiting up for the season opener.
LA Lakers have six players on their injury report, three of them are out
The Lakers have six players on their injury report and three of them have been ruled out. At the time of this writing, the other three are probable, but their status for the game is still unclear.
Troy Brown Jr. is dealing with low back soreness and will miss the season opener against the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old forward was ruled out on October 9, but he appears to be making progress. Unfortunately, his Lakers debut is still weeks away.
Dennis Schroder recently signed with the Lakers, but he won't suit up for the matchup against the Warriors. Due to a thumb injury, the nine-year NBA veteran will miss three to four weeks.
The point guard knows what it feels like to play for the City of Angels as he was a Laker in the 2020-21 season. In his first season with the team, Schroder averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game.
Thomas Bryant will also have to be patient for his Lakers debut. The big man was signed in July, but his first game with the team will not be the season opener. He's been ruled out due to a thumb sprain.
LeBron James is not 100% certain to play
If LeBron James misses the season opener Tuesday night, the LA Lakers will be in trouble. Despite being 37, James was their best player last season and was also one of the best scorers in the league.
The four-time NBA champion is dealing with left foot soreness and has been listed as probable. James missed 26 games for the Lakers last season and, will most likely, be sidelined for, at least, 10 games next season.
Anthony Davis is another player who is probable for the season opener. Like Brown Jr., Davis is dealing with back issues that could keep him sidelined for a couple of games this upcoming season.
Davis missed 36 games in the 2020-21 season and 42 games last season. The LA Lakers will need him to stay healthy if they want to have a deep playoff run.
Russell Westbrook is the last player on the injury report. The point guard may miss the game due to hamstring issues, but it appears that he will suit up. Westbrook only missed four games last season.