In a statement made by the Oklahoma City Thunder Lu Dort has entered the league’s concussion protocol.
Dort adds onto a plethora of big names listed on Monday’s injury report against the Dallas Mavericks, tacking his moniker alongside names in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (plantar fasciatis), Darius Bazely (shoulder), and Al Horford (rest.) If all injuries remain, as they should, the Thunder will have none of their opening-day starters on hand for Monday’s matchup.
The 21-year-old took an elbow to the noggin in the infancy stages of Saturday’s second-half against the Boston Celtics. Dort wielded the ball left baseline driving head first into Jaylen Brown’s elbow, resulting in Dort being discombobulated and immediately sent into the player’s tunnel for more investigation.
As stated in the organizations announcement, “Per the NBA’s Concussion Protocol Policy, Dort will not begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Protocol… There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.”
Dort’s absence on Monday will indefinitely open the door for wings in Svi Mykhailiuk and Kenrich Williams to vie for starting-minutes — past that point — we don’t know.
Oklahoma City will begin their four-game road stand Wednesday against the Raptors, and Friday against the Suns.