Jared Dudley may be a gift that the Lakers continue to give.
Despite moving from the franchise to this off-season by retiring and joining Jason Kidd’s coach staff in Dallas, Dudley is, of course, notable on the LeBron James and Anthony Davis rosters. It has something to do with the Lakers. That relationship left him almost on the roster for the 2021-22 season and was an integral part of his value during the Lakers era.
And that relationship may be paying the Lakers dividends this season as well. In a recent episode of the Underdogs Podcast, Dudley revealed that Davis called him to discuss his weight loss during a rehab from an MCL sprain with the Lakers last season ().h / t LakersSupply / Twitter).
“I lose £ 20 during the season, but it’s almost impossible for the Lakers to do it, and I haven’t even played. It’s very interesting, now AD is injured the same now, Now he calls me “Hey, what did you do?” Because he saw me. “Jared” in the weight room doing aerobic exercise one hour before practice. He was sweating and now it’s time to practice. And I can’t practice. It’s the top 10 guys. But he saw me crazy and the practice was over. Now I’m in the weight room and doing something for my knees. “
In March of last season, Dudley was diagnosed with an MCL laceration and many thought he would end his career. However, instead of surgery, Dudley was able to rehabilitate the injury, losing £ 20 in the process and returning in time for the playoffs.
Why is this important for Davis? In particular, Davis has appeared in a bulkier training camp this season in the hope of playing more time at the center. However, he scored at the highest rate of his career around the rim, which seems to have come at the expense of his jumper.
Davis’s call to Dudley could be for a variety of reasons related to the rehabilitation of his injuries, given that the two had very similar injuries. But where there is smoke, there is often a fire. Given that the Lakers have moved to a small ball philosophy that emphasizes spacing and driving, Davis aims to remove some of the pre-season weight to adapt to that style.
But in the worst case, Davis is looking for a way to rehabilitate the MCL while staying fit. Davis will be reassessed early next week and may be aiming to return to court during the Lakers’ next road trip. As he stands up, getting in shape and staying in top condition should be a top priority.
Losing weight to adapt to the team’s new style can be a huge additional bonus.
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