Right before the Miami Heat fell to the Chicago Bulls, another beloved young star was added to the injury list, and he was quickly declared out due to a sprained right ankle. As the Heat have recovered from Andrew Wiggins’ injury, Larsson is currently on the mend from what is hoped to be a short setback, given the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the matter.
According to The Miami Herald, Miami’s second-round pick would label it a “freak accident” as he was going through his customary weightlifting regimen, doing step downs, before the game, as his “foot caught in something”.
“I was lifting and just stepped and got my foot caught in something,” Larsson said. “So I just stepped on a twisted ankle, and it doesn’t feel great.”
“It’s more frustrating than anything, especially when it happens off the court,” Larsson continued. “It feels like you don’t have as much control. So it’s frustrating.”
Pelle Larsson will also miss Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, as his minutes have been erratic throughout the season, but he has been a steady contributor off the bench for Erik Spoelstra recently. Making strides as a rookie on either side of the ball, the team is understandably disappointed to learn of the injury.
Heat’s Pelle Larsson on having an injury on the same ankle
As Heat head coach Spoelstra prepares to lead his team over the play-in tournament, Larsson appears to be willing to come off the bench. He would say he knew about the accident when it happened, calling it a “freakish unfortunate deal,” and adding that weightlifting before games is “part of his normal routine.”
“I was right next door, so I heard it,” Spoelstra said. “It’s just one of those things, it was a freakish unfortunate deal. But that’s part of his normal routine. And we’ll continue to treat him and see how he responds.”
Larsson suffered an ankle injury in December, causing him to miss four games, and acknowledged that it is the same one, as the plan now is “working with trainers.”
“Right now I’m just going day by day, working with trainers and seeing how every movement feels one day after another,” Larsson said as he came out of the University of Arizona, selected with the 44th pick.
“It’s the same ankle, so that’s similar,” Larsson said. “But that was a little different. That was when we were playing and it probably was a little bit worse. But always got to be cautious with repeating stuff like that. Just making sure everything is looking good and 100%.”
At any rate, Larsson hopes to return as Miami has two games remaining before the regular season finishes, one of which is against the Pelicans on Friday.
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