Lakers Rookie Julius Randle Breaks Leg In Opener

By MH
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Updated: October 29, 2014

Kobe on what he told Randle after his injury: “I just told him to keep his spirits up. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to pick him up and get him through it.”

A photo posted by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:15pm PDT

Los Angeles Lakers’ rookie forward Julius Randle broke his leg in the fourth quarter of the home opener against the Rockets Tuesday night.Reports according to the Lakers team doctors and officials say the diagnosis is a broken tibia. The Lakers will underground further evaluation today. Lakers head coach had this to say about the Julius Randle and the injury according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com:

It is heartbreaking, because I saw him all summer,” coach Byron Scott said. “I saw the work that he was putting in. I saw the progression that he was making, the steps that he was taking to get better. And his first game, he goes down. I don’t think anybody in that locker room is happy about the way we played, but we’re even more saddened about the fact that we lost one of our young guys.”

Randle was the Lakers first round draft pick this season as he was selected 7th overall. The former Kentucky Wildcat was part of the team that made it all the way to the national championship before losing to UConn.

I just told him to stay strong,” Scott said. “Adversity tests the true character of a man. This is some adversity that we’re facing with a young guy being out, and obviously, it’s something that he’s facing. I feel for him. I feel extremely bad for him. He was kind of crying, and I just told him to stay strong and that it’s going to make him a better basketball player.”

The Lakers were hoping for a season of growth for Randle this year. He was the first piece to the Lakers rebuilding puzzle. Lakers legend James Worthy showed his support for the rookie last night on Twitter.

I had the same injury as @J30_RANDLE – he’ll recover fine. #StayStrong — James Worthy (@JamesWorthy42) October 29, 2014

CaliSports wish nothing but the best for Julius Randle.

The Lakers are back in action tonight as they take on the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix at 7 p.m.

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