Roberson ‘on a really good track’ in rehab
The Thunder likes to operate with caution in regard to any injury and any timetable for return. What’s clear, however, is the progress being made by Andre Roberson.
Before Thunder assistants put six orange cones on the practice floor and the media was ushered out of the Thunder ION practice facility Thursday, you could see Roberson at work. The 26-year-old is still rehabbing his surgically repaired left knee, but nearly two months since experiencing a setback in his recovery, Roberson is showing positive signs.
“I’m sure for him there are some days he’s sorer than others,” Thunder coach Billy
Donovan said. “But overall, he just continues to progress and get better.
“You guys have seen him out here. He’s cutting, he’s moving. He’s been on a really good track.”
Following a procedure to alleviate irritation from a suture in his left knee on Oct. 4, the Thunder said Roberson would be re-evaluated in two months, which would put his re-evaluation date around the first week of December. A re-evaluation is not the same as a return date, however, and there is no timetable for Roberson’s return.
But Thursday offered some of the most promising displays from Roberson in the Thunder’s post-practice sessions the media is allowed to witness. In the past month, the Thunder staff has ramped up Roberson’s conditioning drills in the non-contact, postpractice sessions, often with Donovan and general manager Sam Presti watching intently.
On Thursday, Roberson showed brief reminders of what makes him special on defense.
In defensive-specific drills, he made sharp cuts on closeouts and looked comfortable shuffling quickly and completing quick start-and-stop motions to stay in front of Thunder assistant Drew Jones.
Without Roberson, the Thunder has established the NBA's No. 1 defense (101.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) through 20 games. When Roberson eventually returns, Donovan didn’t rule out the G League Oklahoma City Blue as an option.
“I think that would be certainly a great step for him in terms of his recovery and his development because he’s going to need to get into probably some game action,” Donovan said.
Tip-ins
Black Eyes Peas star Taboo Nawasha will perform at halftime of ThunderHawks on Friday as a part of Native American Heritage Month. Nawasha is a descendant of the Shoshone and Hopi tribes, as well as a Nike N7 ambassador. Nike N7 was created to help benefit Native American and Aboriginal communities in the United States and Canada.