Lakers’ Rui Hachimura enters concussion protocol
LOS ANGELES — Lakers forward Rui Hachimura entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, the team announced on Wednesday ahead of a home game against the Clippers, keeping him sidelined for the second consecutive game.
“He remains showing symptoms,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “And so he saw a specialist [Wednesday], along with our team doctors and is just working through it and hopefully just take it one day at a time. But he saw the specialist and we’ll see what [Thursday] looks like [Thursday].”
Hachimura also wasn’t available for Monday’s home win against the Orlando Magic, sitting out because of – what was listed at the time as – a left eye contusion he suffered in Sunday night’s road loss to the Sacramento Kings.
He finished with 11 points (3-of-6 shooting, 2 for 4 from 3-point range) and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench against the Kings.
Hachimura didn’t enter the protocols sooner because it initially seemed like his symptoms were improving before they persisted, Ham said.
“Once he got poked in the eye he was really sensitive to light and it seemed to be going in one direction and then some other things occurred,” Ham said. “Some other symptoms. So, just to be careful, he went and saw the specialist along with our team doctors and that was the decision that was made.”
If a player is diagnosed with a concussion, “he cannot return to participation: for at least 48 hours, including the date of diagnosis; and until after he completes the required return-to-participation process”, according to the league’s concussion policy summary.
A player who had a concussion can not return to participation until:
• They’re without concussion-related symptoms at rest;
• Have been evaluated by a physician with training and experience in the management of a concussion;
• Have successfully completed the NBA return-to-participation exertion process;
• A team physician has discussed the return-to-participation process and decision with the Director of the NBA Concussion Program. The final return-to-participation decision is to be made by the player’s team physician.
Guard Gabe Vincent also missed his first regular-season game because of left knee soreness.
“It’s something that happened after the last game,” Ham said. “[Tuesday] was a day off and it just started to swell up on him a little bit. He’s also being evaluated as we speak.”
Forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who hasn’t played since the preseason opener on Oct. 7 and has missed the first five games because of left heel bursitis (inflammation), was seen doing on-court work after Wednesday’s shootaround.
The Lakers announced last Friday that Vanderbilt would be re-evaluated in two weeks (Nov. 10), with another update being provided at that time.
“He’s getting stronger and stronger and the discomfort is dissipating,” Ham said. “But as of right now, he’s only doing stationary work.”
CHRSTIE’S TIME
After playing one minute combined in the first four games, second-year guard Max Christie was in the rotation against the Clippers in light of the team’s injuries.
Christie was the Lakers’ first substitute in the opening quarter, checking in for Austin Reaves for his first time on the court since the season-opening loss to the Denver Nuggets.
During the preseason, it seemed as if Christie was competing with Cam Reddish for a spot in the rotation. Reddish won the competition, being in the rotation for the first four games and averaging 12 minutes.
“Cam has a little bit more playing experience,” Ham said. “Cam is new, so being under the period of discovery, within the period of discovery I should say, we just wanted to see what we had and how he fit with our pieces. So, he got the initial nod.
“But Max is going to have his time. Max is someone who’s going to be a Laker for a long time. That’s why he’s here. That’s why we drafted him. His growth from last year throughout the summer, where he is now, he’s going to get plenty of opportunities often. So, [Wednesday] is one of them, but big picture: Max is one of our young jewels on our roster.”
Reddish started against the Clippers in place of Taurean Prince, who felt soreness in his knee during warmups.