Los Angeles Lakers guard Josh Hart will miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing surgery for a fracture in his left hand, the team announced in a press release.
Hart sustained the injury during practice in Miami, fracturing the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. He returned to Los Angeles the following day for further examination, choosing to undergo surgery and miss roughly one month of action.
Hart, 22, was drafted 30th by the Lakers last June in a draft where the team also selected Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. He’s averaged 6.6 points in 25 games this season. In his 20 starts, however, he’s averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds on 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Hart would miss the remainder of the season if he’s sidelined for six weeks, as the Lakers’ final game falls on April 11. This is his first NBA season, with the 6-foot-5 guard playing his fourth season with Villanova last year.
The Lakers waived Corey Brewer this week, making the team suddenly thinner on the wing. The team could give Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and potentially Luol Deng more time in their absence. Deng, who’s fully healthy, has only appeared in just one Lakers game this season.
