Lakers Could be Without Key Players For Opening Night

The Los Angeles Lakers may play their opening night without some of the key players on the floor. Well, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook are playing. Who will miss the game?

Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, and Wayne Ellington.

Positive for the Lakers: Malik Monk moving around as practice wraps up. He’s missed the last two games with a groin strain. pic.twitter.com/88FWFkI0om

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) October 13, 2021

Monk has been really impressive in the postseason. He had a good chance to earn a spot on Frank Vogel’s roster. Well, Monk is dealing with a groin strain and will miss some time. The team hoped to have him on the floor for the season opener on Oct. 19. This injury was a big blow for the Lakers because he was one of the most impressive players in the preseason. Monk would love to hit the field with his team but we can only make guesses right now.

This is not the only injury LA deals with right now. Trevor Ariza had a right ankle surgery and Talen Horton-Tucker is having a thumb surgery, too. Kendrick Nunn is dealing with right ankle sprain. He didn’t play in the game against the Golden State Warriors.

Other key Lakers players to miss opening night

Nunn was listed on the injury report for the first time in the preseason. We don’t know when he sustained his injury and we don’t have much information about the severity of his sprain.

Frankly, it seems highly unlikely that Wayne Ellington will be ready in a week. Hamstrings are incredibly fragile, and even Grade 1 strains are generally multiple-week injuries. https://t.co/tjMZD8fZdW https://t.co/O7KKUAOHko

— michael corvo (@_michaelcorvo_) October 13, 2021

What about Ellington? He hoped to get playing time at shooting guard but he ended up dealing with hamstring tightness.

According to latest updates, Ellington is dealing with Grade 1 hamstring strain. In other words, he may miss opening night.

The Lakers entered the preseason as a really tough team. However, these injuries gave fans a really big headache. Health was a top factor and everyone knows it, including LeBron. He knows that injuries can change the team’s fate overnight. Hopefully, teams will avoid serious injuries.

Vogel is an optimist and so are his players. LeBron believes that his team will rely on incredible chemistry later in the regular season. Players look good on the field despite the fact that they lost five straight games. It’s time to win a few of these!