The Oklahoma City Thunder last played a game with Andre Roberson in the lineup on Dec. 29, 2017. That could change at some point in the relative near future when the NBA resumes its season in Orlando.
According to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman, Thunder general manager Sam Presti is ‘certainly hopeful’ Robertson will be able to play in Orlando when the NBA season resumes. He made it clear the team has to ‘cross that next bridge’ before it can happen.
There are plenty of questions that arise when thinking about the possibility of Roberson returning to game action. Would he be on a playing-time restriction upon his return? Would it be worth letting him find his rhythm during a playoff series?
With Roberson sidelined for so long, the Thunder turned to athletic perimeter defenders like Terrance Ferguson, Luguentz Dort, and Hamidou Diallo to help fill the void. It’s unclear how their playing time or spot in the rotation would change upon Roberson’s return.
In the past, there has been plenty of positive updates regarding Roberson’s recovery process only for him to suffer a setback and a delayed timetable. A possible return for the swingman is certainly worth monitoring but it’s important to keep that context into consideration.
During his most recent season in the NBA, Andre Roberson averaged 26.6 minutes, 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He provided a strong defensive impact often guarding the other team’s top wing threat while being a slasher on offense.
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