MARCH 16, 1:24pm: Ingram underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery on his right arm Saturday, the team’s PR department tweets. He is expected to make a full recovery prior to the start of next season.
MARCH 9, 12:40pm: Health problems continue to plague the Lakers, who announced today in a press release that further testing on Brandon Ingram‘s sore right shoulder “revealed a Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) in his arm.” Ingram is expected to miss the rest of the 2018/19 season, according to the club.
Ingram, 21, had been enjoying the best stretch of his 2018/19 season prior to missing the last two games with a sore shoulder. Since returning from an ankle injury in late December, Ingram had averaged 20.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.5 APG on .510/.333/.697 shooting in 32 games, helping to re-establish his place among the league’s most promising young prospects.
Ingram’s health issue is the latest in a string of them for the Lakers’ young core. Lonzo Ball has been sidelined since January 19 with an ankle injury and there’s no guarantee he’ll return this season. Meanwhile, Kyle Kuzma is currently on the shelf with a minor ankle sprain of his own.
The trio of youngsters could have been in line for significant roles down the stretch, with the Lakers waving the white flag on the playoff chase and dialing back LeBron James‘ playing time. However, Kuzma might be the only one of the three who is actually able to get back on the court before season’s end.
While it may be tempting to say that the Lakers are being overly cautious with minor injuries to help improve their draft position down the stretch, Ingram’s new diagnosis is more serious than just a “sore shoulder.” The Mayo Clinic describes DVT as occurring “when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body.”
Recurring issues with blood clots have forced NBA players like Chris Bosh and Mirza Teletovic into early retirement in recent years, so the hope is that this is just a one-time problem for Ingram.
When it rains it pours
Boy this sadly keeps getting worse for us
Bummer! It’s like the twilight zone!
tanking for the pick
I assume that this is all Luke Walton’s fault and just another reason to fire him at the end of the season.
So a blood clot Luke fault?
Pretty sure that thing that just flew over your head was sarcasm…
No really it is Luke’s fault. All the screaming he does in the timeouts jumping up and down getting on the players causes this stress in the guys. It’s all Luke’s fault. Probably should fire him. The replacement would be soooo much better.
Lol and some dude in my fantasy league wanted me to give him Beal for Ingram and Whiteside….
Find out how he knows future events
“Not tryin for Zion”
Zero chance they will be picking first. Well I guess it is not zero depending on just how bad they finish. But I don’t think even if they lost every game remaining their chances would still be pretty much impossible. Unless the NBA wants him in LA and they fix the draft like the year they did for LeBron to Cleveland and Davis to New Orleans.
They could lose every game and certainly be in the top 5. But I bet that would make Jack Nicholson angry.
Zion gon be a Laker. This was Magics plan all along.
Is really no one seeing what’s being played here? Dudes enjoy lala land and don’t want to get traded to Nola. Hence they do everything they can (incl. bribing their doctors and faking whatever injury / health issue) to lower their trade value and make sure Boston offers something better. Wouldn’t this be what every one of us would do in their place?
Actually New Orleans is a great town, especially if you are young and rich.
Move ’em back to Minneapolis then talk Slick Leonard (he’s only 86) outta retirement. Maybe he can play with this dumpster fire.
Slick Leonard
Nice
Man one can’t believe how much hate there is out there towards the Lakers, must be proof that they are the best franchise ever in the league, lesser people usually hates their betters, right?
No, no, you’ve got it wrong (again). I am a lifelong Lakers guy, all the way back to Minneapolis. The Lakers are a dumpster fire, or, if you will, a train wreck. LeBron moved to L.A. for the marketing possibilities and to raise his family. The team is a joke
and Slick Leonard would be a good choice at 86. It’s not “hate” to comment on the obvious, and everyone who doesn’t think like you doesn’t hate you … or do they? :)
If not hate, then irrationality.
Nobody worked as hard to get James as the Lakers, knowing he would want a new challenge.
The Lakers have a 10% chance of a top 3 pick at their present seed but could get as high as a 27% chance if they keep losing with backups. Also they get Moritz developed.
Not a great outcome overall but not much was promised that much in the first year with James. People who wanted title contention got ahead of themselves.
LOL you stole my joke from a few days ago.
Injuries have plagued the lakers, while i dont think luke is the problem he isnt the solution. His lineups are terrible and he rotations make little sense in game. I think at the deadline lakers knew they would have to tank for a top 3 pick after discussions with pelicans lead them to consider there core isnt highely regarded. So the mission became to throw away season and give the youth a chance and ingram showed a lot before the injury. As current standings depict lakers have the best picks and young player as celtics roster looks just as wonky. The picks celtics have arent great sitting at 15 and 18 respectively. I do think the lakers will land a top 3 pick because the league is rigged and wont waste another talent being on the suns roster. Just my thoughts but i think the league wants james back in contention they just have to cheat the system to do so.
Not enough Win in Ingram, Kuzma, Ball. Just like Wiggins and Towns. Stat sheets filled not the standings. Maybe it’s not enough hate for losing. Look at the playoff teams, most of those dudes willing their team to where they are are dogs. Hate losing type of player. There are a lot of guys in the league that are content to just get theirs and get paid. Same as a ‘I just work here’ mentality.
Their play does suggest a having-fun-oriented motivation. If so, not a good match for James, who already had that phase 10-15 years ago.
I wonder if this surgery prevents more blood clots further down the road or just a temporary fix
A blood clot is when the body heals an area after injury. Then it breaks off and flows toward heart or brain so while it fixed this one it could happen again if he gets injured again