Following Tuesday’s practice, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens provided an injury update on rookie swingman Romeo Langford, who has been sidelined since before the draft after undergoing thumb surgery shortly after the 2018-19 season that kept him from participating in the Summer League circuit and then a groin injury that left him restricted from taking part in live action at the start of training camp.
The 14th overall pick has had a couple of tough breaks over the past year, including sliding to the bottom of the lottery after entering the 2018-19 season as a potential top-five selection in 2019.
However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the Indiana native, as Stevens announced that the smooth-scoring wing was a full participant in practice on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old Langford has the makings of an upper echelon playmaker should he remain healthy and the efforts he’s made to improve his jumper pay off. Friday, when Boston faces the Orlando Magic on their home turf, could be his first chance to show the Celtics and their faithful fans what he’s capable of at the NBA level.
Too much stock shouldn’t be put into his performance if he underwhelms, as Langford may be rusty or get winded early in comparison to teammates like young wings Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, who both got a chance to hone their craft and catch their rhythm with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup this summer.
Fortunately, early signs (and reviews) are positive for the young wing.
Alas, a strong performance by Langford may not be an indication of what the future holds either. Although Langford has long been considered a prodigious scorer, much like Tatum was upon entering the NBA, with his advanced feel for the game and variety of scoring moves being emphasized by analysts and coaches alike.
