Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Tuesday, adding to the team’s woes with injuries among its depth players.
The Lakers provided no time frame for Wood’s recovery from the procedure, which was performed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
But the injury seems highly likely to sideline Wood, who has been out since Feb. 14, for at least the rest of the regular season.
The absence of Wood, coupled with other sidelined players such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Cam Reddish, has diminished the depth of the Lakers’ roster, which was once considered strong support for stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Vanderbilt has been out with a sprained right foot since Feb. 1, while Vincent injured his knee in October after playing in only five games in his first season with the Lakers.
The team hasn’t predicted when either veteran will be able to play again, likely a bad sign for their prospects.
Reddish has been sidelined since March 8 due to an ankle injury, but the Lakers anticipate his return in the near future.
Wood is averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 50 games this season, his first with the Lakers. Jaxson Hayes has stepped up with solid play as Los Angeles’ backup center in Wood’s absence.
Despite grappling with injuries, the Lakers have managed to win 13 out of 20 games, maintaining their ninth position in the Western Conference playoff standings. Their recent victory over Atlanta showcased their resilience.
LeBron James continues to shine, averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.2 rebounds in what marks an impressive 21st NBA season. Meanwhile, D’Angelo Russell has maintained his exceptional outside shooting streak since midseason.
