Heat player Josh Richardson discusses his anticipated recuperation time after shoulder surgery.
Josh Richardson, who underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, informed reporters in Las Vegas that he might not be ready for the start of training camp.
“I’ve never gone through anything this serious,” Richardson remarked while continuing to work with Heat trainers and coaches while in Las Vegas this week for summer league play. Thus, having to do nothing but sit still for four months is a terrible idea. But I’m trying to pace myself and not get too excited or depressed, so it’s small steps. because I will never be able to wake up and resume my life as it was. However, I’m eager to get back on the road.
However, Richardson’s route back could not have him prepared for early October, when training camp begins. Although there is “no official timetable,” he stated that training camp is “the optimistic goal” for his return to full five-on-five contact basketball activity in the hopes of being available for the majority of the preseason and the beginning of the regular season.
Richardson, who started to shoot baskets earlier this month, said of his basketball practices, “I’ve had three days on the court now.” “I’m aiming for the medium. I can shoot as far away as that. I can shoot the occasional little floater, but I’m still not good enough to make threes. However, it benefits me because I can sort of dismantle my shot and rebuild it from the ground up.
In a game on February 11 against the Boston Celtics, Richardson hurt his right shoulder. On March 6, he had surgery to replace his labrum. It wasn’t until July 2 that he made his basketball shooting debut following the injury.
This offseason, Richardson decided to stick with the Heat by exercising his $3 million player option. By signing experienced scorer Alec Burks to a minimum contract and choosing guard Pelle Larsson in the second round of the June draft, the front office has increased competition at the position.