Suns’ Oubre Jr. comes back strong after knee surgery
Step-back jumper looks familiar.
Explosiveness is there.
Not wearing a knee brace, either.
It’s been two months since Phoenix Suns wing Kelly Oubre Jr. underwent arthroscopic surgery March 3 to address a torn meniscus in his right knee in what was a career year for him.
At that time, Oubre was rescheduled for evaluation in four weeks.
That time has come and been gone, but the 201920 NBA season was suspended March 11 after Utah Jazz all-star center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
The players haven’t been able to return to Talking Stick Resort Arena to work out, but Oubre seems to have recovered from his injury based on the video.
Teams officials informed the Suns look to have voluntary individual workouts as early as May 16 as Gov. Doug Ducey announced the stay-athome order would, with some modifications, be in place until May 15.
The NBA is allowing these workouts as early as Friday under strict regulations that include having no head coaches or assistants and no more than four players being permitted at a facility at any one time.
With Talking Stick Resort Arena under renovations as part of the $230-million renovation project and the new practice facility on 44th Street and just north of Camelback Road still under construction, the Suns plan to have home games at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum if the 2019-20 season resumes with regular-season games.
The “Madhouse on McDowell” is also where the Suns look to have these individual workouts. Oubre may be one of the first ones to participate to test his step-back and explosiveness on a basketball court.
If the NBA decides to resume play with regular-season games, Oubre may very well be ready to play. He was averaging 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and shooting 35.2% from 3, all career highs, this season.
Oubre signed a two-year, $30-million deal last summer. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the 202021 season.