https://youtu.be/rtcYErCa98M
Andre Roberson is not playing in the pre-season for the Oklahoma City Thunder and that might be a tell tale sign that the sixth year defensive stalwart might never be the same again. He missed all of the 2018-19 season.
A ruptured left patellar tendon is not an easy injury to overcome. But currently, as told by the Thunder, Dre has no restrictions in practice as of the third pre-season game tonight in Dallas. Yet, it seems, the team does not trust Roberson to go all out in an NBA game, abet pre-season, and that trust might never come for him here in Oklahoma City. And the whole of the Association to be sure is watching his situation.
Some, like me, can speculate that he will never be the same player as he was before the injury, and I will go one step further. With an agreement or not with Roberson, the Thunder have two options that could come to fruition. One, the team holds Roberson out until they can trade him, or the latter, with approval of Roberson, a medical retirement, allowing him to take his salary owed and for him to start a new life, possibility as a coach or a similar position with the team.
Yes, pure speculation here, but do not discount the fact that OKC is not comfortable in putting the player on the court right now, a week or so from the beginning of the season. And for Roberson’s future, another serious injury to this tendon could have severe consequences to Roberson’s mobility for the rest of his life.
It would be a shame if Roberson comes back, plays a limited role and minutes with OKC, then tears it up again. That is a strong possibility.
That is the way I see it NBA fans.
my feeling on it is this is a normal 2 yrs to get all the way back we are at a point where why risk anything specially in a preseason game. andre at full health is a defensive difference on a top team . i think okc is giving him plenty of work in practice right now he is a vet does not need preseason to bring the defense. if needed we will see him come reg season or mot at all until after the dec trades.
Andre at full strength today might not be the same player as Andre at full strength before the injury. I think OKC is very cautious with him knowing that he has continued to have issues (setbacks) from the original problem with this part of the body even before he tore it. We will know very soon if OKC trusts him and if he is the same player he was before the injury. And if he does not play and the Thunder continue to sit him we shall know that he is not every going to play for OKC. And if another team takes a chance on him, that would be a tough call. Everyone heals differently and some do not heal at all. Time will tell.