The Los Angeles Lakers announced that Josh Hart will be out for at least the next week after he received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to treat the tendinitis in his right knee. He will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
If the procedure sounds familiar, it’s because Lonzo Ball received a PRP injection in his left knee in June before deciding to undergo surgery in the offseason. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was also one of the first players to popularize PRP injections.
After a strong start to the season, Hart’s production took a nosedive in part because LeBron James got hurt, but also because he was dealing with a few nagging injuries. While the Lakers need as many health bodies as they can get for their late-season playoff push, they would be better off just letting Hart rest for the next week or so.
Luckily, because of the upcoming All-Star break, there’s a decent chance Hart will only miss one game on Tuesday against the 18-38 Atlanta Hawks. Ball is also expected to return following the All-Star break.
If Hart misses time beyond that, the Lakers have the depth at the wing to stay afloat without him. Expect Reggie Bullock to get the bulk of Hart’s minutes in his absence. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will likely also see more playing time.
