Tobias Harris Injury News: Return Timeline Revealed For Potential Season Debut
· Yahoo Sports
Fresh off their NBA Finals run this past summer, the San Antonio Spurs made a new addition to their backcourt: forward Tobias Harris. The elite wing scorer overstayed his welcome with the Detroit Pistons, leading him to sign with the Spurs for two years, $30.8 million. To this day, we’ve been waiting for his debut, and the moment may finally be in sight.
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The 6’8″ NBA veteran initially went down during training camp after being diagnosed with a left calf strain, but the injury has gone beyond what anyone prepared for. Fortunately, as his recovery has progressed, a clearer picture of his timeline has finally emerged, with one insider claiming Harris could be back as soon as early December.
“Sources relayed to me that they [Spurs] did not expect this injury to linger on as long as it has right now,” reported Chris Haynes. “But there is good news that I can report: I’m told he is getting better. Sources relayed to me that he is expected to start getting on the court for some practice work next week. If things progress, if everything goes as planned from next week when he steps on the floor, he could make his season debut as early as early December.”
Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, and the recovery rates vary based on multiple factors. Still, Harris’ absence is notably longer than the average, sparking some concern that his health might never be the same. If what Haynes says is true, then it means he’s at least progressing in the right direction. Barring any setbacks, we could see Tobias Harris on the court as soon as next month, and it carries massive implications for the Western Conference hierarchy.
Harris, 34, is a longtime league veteran and naturally gifted scorer who can stretch the floor and create his own shot. After 15 seasons, he’s no longer in his prime, but the Spurs believe he can still fill their hole on the wing, just like he did for the No. 1-seeded Pistons last season, when he averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 46.9% shooting from the field over 63 games.
For a Spurs team that’s 11-2, there’s no use rushing Harris back. They’re the hottest team in the league right now (11 straight wins) and coming off a ridiculously lopsided victory (123-85) over the Golden State Warriors. Sans Harris, the Spurs have done just fine with Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell on the wing. Off the bench, 25-year-old Julian Champagnie has provided a consistent spark.
So, yes, the Spurs may not need Tobias Harris to prosper this season, but adding his scoring and veteran leadership to the locker room will only raise their ceiling further. At the very least, it will add depth to their already deep rotation.
What can we expect from Harris himself? Probably not much, especially out of the gate as he shakes off the rust from an extended hiatus. Fortunately, he’ll have all the time in the world to get his rhythm back and make a real impact for this red-hot Spurs team.