Bad news, Kings fans. Richaun Holmes’ injured right shoulder still is an issue, and it’s time for the next steps.
According to the team, Holmes has a tear in his labrum. After the pain wouldn’t subside in the joint, the Kings pushed forward with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) on Monday and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Surgery is still an option, but Sacramento will wait to see how he reacts to the current treatment.
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According to John Hopkins Medicine:
"Labral Tear of the Shoulder. The labrum is a piece of fibrocartilage (rubbery tissue) attached to the rim of the shoulder socket that helps keep the ball of the joint in place. When this cartilage is torn, it is called a labral tear. Labral tears may result from injury, or sometimes as part of the aging process."
This is not an uncommon injury in the NBA. Both Anthony Davis and Paul George suffered the same injury. Davis admitted to playing through the ailment for three seasons, while George was eventually forced to have surgery.
Holmes originally injured the shoulder Jan. 6 against the Golden State Warriors. He attempted to return to the court and participated in a full-contact practice last Wednesday, but he woke up Thursday with increased pain and was shut down.
NBA
While this is the first time the team has divulged the actual extent of the injury for Holmes, a team source has confirmed that an MRI originally diagnosed the labral tear in early January.
After signing a two-year, $10 million free-agent deal with the Kings over the summer, Holmes impressed with his tenacity and strong play during training camp. It took him all of four days to unseat Dewayne Dedmon as the team’s starting center.
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The 26-year-old is averaging 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 37 games for the Kings this season. He currently has missed 16 games with the injury.