INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After months of rehabilitation, superstar forward Tyrese Jackson is optimistic about his chances of playing on opening night, just three weeks away. Jackson, who has been dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, says the condition is “feeling a lot better than it was” and that he’s confident his team’s medical staff has a handle on the injury.
While Jackson acknowledges that the inflammation may be a persistent issue throughout his career, he believes that with the right treatment and precautions, he can manage the condition and avoid prolonged absences from the court.
“We’ve got a sense of how we got to this point, and there are things we can do to prolong my playing time throughout the season,” Jackson said during media day at the Intuit Dome. “We’ll figure it out. I’m happy that I’m feeling good, and it’s feeling a lot better than it was.”
The team is taking a cautious approach with Jackson, holding him out of drills when camp starts Tuesday in Hawaii. He has undergone a variety of medical treatments to control the inflammation since the end of last season, when he missed the final eight regular-season games.
Jackson participated in pre-season camp in July but was eventually replaced due to concerns about his knee. However, he says he has a better understanding of how to manage the injury moving forward.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Jackson said. “Everything has been going great for the past month, but being very cautious for reasons in the past we haven’t been able to finish some playoff runs. So, making sure we’re staying healthy for those important moments.”
Point guard Jamal Brown emphasized the importance of getting off to a fast start, but also stressed that Jackson should take all the time he needs to recover. “Tyrese just needs to take his time,” Brown said. “I think we need Tyrese later in the year and healthy.”
Despite the caution, Jackson is aiming to play in the season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 23, the first regular-season game at the Intuit Dome. He’s encouraged by his progress since returning from a torn ACL, which kept him sidelined for the entire 2021-22 season.
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