NBA rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers Julius Randle was carted off the court last night due to what’s likely a broken tibia on his right leg–oftentimes a season-ending injury. [lead image via Twitter]
It was Randle’s first regular season game in a Lakers uniform and a devastating blow both mentally and physically for one of the league’s rising stars.
The injury happened midway through the fourth quarter when the Lakers were already down big. Randle was driving to the basket when (according to coach Byron Scott) players heard a pop and his leg buckled. Gross, yes, but also sad. Apparently Julius’ mother was at the game and came through the tunnel crying.
As for Kobe, the superstar was immediately by Randle’s side, cradling his head as Randle screamed “F*cking hurts man. It hurts.”
In the postgame interview, Kobe offered this statement.
“He has a great cast around him–myself and James Worthy and AC Green and Magic. We’re all here. We’ll help him through this. He’ll come back a basketball player. That’s the goal, is to try and find a silver lining within anything.”
