The Los Angeles Lakers have had an inability to get and stay healthy this season. Their injury woes have particularly affected their frontcourt depth, which, at times, has compromised their defensive length.
Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince have all missed multiple games with various ailments. In particular, Hachimura was forced to sit for a total of nine games so far this year.
His latest injury was a nasal fracture that he sustained in late November. Ever since returning from that injury, he has been sporting a black face mask to protect his nose. He said recently that he will have to continue to wear it for quite some time.
Via Lakers Nation:
“It’s been annoying but I have no choice. I have to wear the mask, I think it’s still broken. So I got to wear it because even today I got hit too so if I didn’t have it I think it would be broken again. So I got to just keep wearing it and get used to it. I think they said at least six weeks I think so I think I have like four more weeks or something. Just got to get used to it.”
After an inconsistent start to the season, the 6-foot-8 forward has picked things up lately. He scored 13 points in 24 minutes on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, and he followed it up with 20 points in 34 minutes on Friday.
On the season, Hachimura is averaging 11.8 points in 24.1 minutes a game on 49.7% field-goal shooting and 37.3% from 3-point range.
