Andre Roberson says he was about 90 percent ready to return for the Thunder this season when he experienced a setback that cost him the rest of his 2018-19 campaign.
As Roberson outlined Thursday in his exit interview, he was making good progress in his rehab back from left patellar surgery when he went up for a dunk and heard a “crunch.”
That noise that he heard was an avulsion fracture in his left knee. The setback would be the second that he experienced since undergoing the initial surgery last January.
Roberson suffered two separate setbacks in his recovery and missed the entire 2018-19 season as a result. The team remained hopeful he’d be able to play at some point but that didn’t pan out.
Roberson says he should be ready for training camp in September.
I’m on a good track to return for training camp. As of right now, [I’m] still waiting on the bone to kinda fully heal but making great progress. I’m running so I’m happy about that.
The sixth-year guard admitted that he cried a little bit when he experienced his second setback but eventually was at peace with what happened and is ready to move on.
Roberson appeared to be in good spirits during his media session on Thursday and naturally seems eager to return to playing meaningful basketball.
While Roberson appears set to play next season, it is not yet known if he will return to being the player he was prior to the injury. Players have shown in the past that they may never return to form following such a devastating injury.
The 2019-20 season will also be a crucial one for Roberson, too. He will enter the final year of his contract and will certainly be trying to prove he can continue to play in order to earn another contract next summer, whether that is with the Thunder or another team.
It’s safe to say that Thunder fans will be pulling for ‘Dre, though.
