Return still distant for Thunder’s Andre Roberson
Almost a year after Andre Roberson ruptured his left patellar tendon, he is “not anywhere near playing,” according to Thunder coach Billy Donovan.
“He’s worked hard, he’s doing all he needs to do,” Donovan said Monday after practice, “but he’s still in the rehab process.”
Roberson suffered the initial injury on Jan. 27, but he experienced a setback 6 ½
weeks ago, when an MRI on Nov. 29 revealed an avulsion fracture in his left knee.
At the time, he was expected to be out for at least six more weeks. There is no timetable for his return, Donovan said Monday.
Since the surgery to repair his patellar tendon on Jan. 28, Roberson has also undergone an arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in May and a procedure to alleviate irritation caused by a suture in October.
Tuesday marks the deadline to apply for a disabled player exception, which a team can seek if an NBA physician determines a player is likely to be sidelined though June 15. The Thunder, however, is holding out hope that Roberson could return this season.
Schroder returns to Atlanta
Thunder guard Dennis Schroder returns to play in Atlanta on Tuesday for the first time since the Hawks dealt him to OKC in July, as a part of a 3-team trade involving Carmelo Anthony.
“Going back there, meeting my old teammates, old coaching staff, old front office people,” Schroder said after practice Monday, “it’s going to be, I think, a good day tomorrow."
Including preseason, the Thunder and Hawks have met twice. The Thunder won both times, 113-94 in an exhibition game in Tulsa and 124-109 in Oklahoma City.
In those two meetings, Hawks rookie Trae Young ,a former University of Oklahoma and Norman North star, was greeted warmly by Oklahoma crowds. Young’s upand-down season has nevertheless seen him post 15.8 points and 7.1 assists per game.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Schroder said of his replacement in Atlanta. “He did some great things in college, and he’s just got to get consistent with everything. He’s going to be all right. It’s his first year, and he’s still (putting up) some great numbers and (doing) great things in this league already.”
Tip-ins
Alex Abrines (personal reasons) and Nerlens Noel (concussion protocol) were listed as out in the Thunder’s injury report Monday night.