The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a bit of a hole right now, with Jordan Clarkson likely to miss the season opener this Wednesday.
Clarkson injured his shoulder in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors preseason tussle. The sophomore guard already underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and thankfully, didn't show any serious injury that the Lakers would have to worry about.
Still, Clarkson's status will remain questionable for the Wednesday game between the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He could be a game-time decision and this will only be known days before the Lakers officially open their 2015–16 National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign.
Head coach Byron Scott is, of course, miffed at the sudden turn of events, which may force him to make some changes in the rotation.
"It's pretty frustrating because that kid has done so well for us in the preseason," Scott said.
Clarkson was expected to start at the point guard in the early goings until rookie D'Angelo Russell gets accustomed to the NBA brand of play. If not the playmaker, Clarkson was a shoe-in to play the shooting guard spot, with Kobe Bryant possibly moving up to small forward.
With the possible sidelining of Clarkson, Bryant may eventually slide back to the off guard position, with Russell possibly starting at the point.
Russell thus finds himself having to learn the ropes fast in light of Clarkson's injury, but it seems he is up to the task.
"It's so early, but like I said, I need to mature very quickly," says Russell.
The Lakers plan to treat Clarkson's injury conservatively, knowing how vital the Filipino-American player is to the team.
Together with Russell and another sophomore, Julius Randle, the trio are seen as the future stars of the franchise who will be key this season as the Lakers try to rebound from two forgettable seasons.
