Team doctors cleared Anthony Davis to begin advancing his on-court work after an evaluation on Friday, nearly six weeks after Davis last played in a game because of a calf strain and tendinosis in his right leg, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.
This advancement will include “increased volume and intensity in shooting, dribbling and position specific drills,” according to a Lakers spokesperson.
L.A. was No. 1 in the Western Conference when Davis, an eight-time All-Star and the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last season, went out of the lineup on Feb. 14 against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers have gone 7-11 since then, including the Denver loss, to fall to No. 4 in the West.
“I mean, the truth is he gets evaluated every day,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of Davis before L.A. hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. “You know what I mean? He does work, they treat him, they evaluate him. We’re in the middle of a ramp up. But he’s still a ways away, so nothing concrete from a days [until return] standpoint right now.”
L.A. came into the Cavs game riding a four-game losing streak, coinciding with LeBron James suffering a high ankle sprain last weekend that has kept him out of the lineup, too.