The Oklahoma City Thunder have played well as of late, working their way up to fourth in the Western Conference, and have done so without starting shooting guard Andre Roberson.
Roberson, who was working his way back from the season-ending knee surgery he sustained last season, will now be out for at least an additional six weeks. According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Roberson fractured his knee during his ongoing rehab process.
Per a Thunder spokesperson, Andre Roberson suffered another setback yesterday after landing from a jump during a workout and experiencing some discomfort. He had an MRI that revealed a small avulsion fracture in his knee and he’ll be re-evaluated in another six weeks.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 30, 2018
Roberson was progressing toward a return but was still some time away and while this setback is obviously unfortunate, it doesn’t entirely reset the timetable for him to come back. In six weeks the Thunder will have a clear picture of his expected return to play.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 30, 2018
Following the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered last season, Roberson was still a ways away from returning prior to this most recent setback. Now with this additional knee fracture, the 6-foot-7 wing will be re-evaluated in six weeks, pushing his return to OKC’s lineup back even further.
One of the premier defenders in the entire NBA, Roberson’s presence is integral towards the Thunder’s success. The guard position alongside Russell Westbrook has remained a question mark through the early portions of the season, especially with Terrance Ferguson and standout rookie Hamidou Diallo both dealing with injuries of their own.
While Dennis Schroder has played exceptionally well as a guard option off the bench, OKC will need Andre Roberson healthy in order to seriously contend late into the season.
