Lakers Rookie Cameron Carr Nears NBA Debut After Injury Stint
Carr participates in G League practice as he works back from a strained oblique.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Cameron Carr has taken a significant step toward his NBA debut, participating in a practice session with the team's G League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Lakers, on Tuesday.
Carr has been sidelined since the preseason with a strained right oblique, missing the final three exhibition games and the first four regular-season contests. His return to practice marks a crucial point in his recovery, though an exact timeline for his NBA debut remains undetermined.
“He was able to do a full practice,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated. “Five games in seven nights, we’re not going to be able to practice this week, and wanted to be cognizant of his ramp up and what he needed to do to be back in our lineup.”
The Lakers organization utilized their G League affiliate to facilitate Carr's on-court work due to a demanding schedule of five games in seven nights through early November, which limits opportunities for team practices. Redick emphasized the importance of Carr being able to complete a full practice, noting, “We needed him to be able to get through a full practice. So that’s probably a very important step. Obviously, he was able to do some level of conditioning because it was an upper body injury. But want to make sure he’s able to take hits and be in shape.”
Carr, the No. 24 overall pick in the June NBA draft, showed promise during the preseason. He scored 19 points in the Oct. 5 win against the Sacramento Kings and played 15 minutes in the Oct. 6 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers have a busy upcoming schedule, including a back-to-back set against the Clippers on Wednesday, followed by games against the Warriors, Raptors, and Miami Heat.