Jeremy Lamb's road to recovery includes a stop in the NBA bubble

Four months removed from undergoing successful surgery on his left knee, Jeremy Lamb is back with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA restart bubble. While the former UConn star won’t be on the court when the NBA season resumes, he remains excited to be back around the game and his teammates as he continues down the road to recovery.

Speaking with members of the media from the Walt Disney World campus in Orlando, Florida, Lamb gave an update on his injured knee, rehab, and when he expects to see the court again.

After tearing his ACL and meniscus in addition to breaking a bone in his fibula, Lamb is reportedly progressing slowly. Even with the extended layoff due to COVID-19, he will not be recovered enough to return to action this season. Nonetheless, Lamb opted to join his team in the NBA restart bubble as the Pacers ready for the playoffs.

“By them all being down here I thought it was best to continue working with them, but also being around my team, being around basketball because I didn’t want to be in Indiana by myself,” said Lamb. “I felt everybody being around was good energy for me, helping me progress even more, mentally as well. Mentality is a huge part of this as well so I thought it was best.”

Lamb suffered the injury on February 23 during a loss to Toronto and, after starting 42 of Indiana’s 46 games before the injury, was moved to the bench when Victor Oladipo returned from a knee injury of his own. He was averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on .451 shooting and .335 percent beyond the arch prior to his injury and had successful surgery on March 12, just one day after the NBA suspended its season.

“I’m extremely thankful that I was able to get the surgery done and start rehab before everything really went crazy, so that’s a blessing in itself,” Lamb said.

Of the three injuries—ACL, meniscus, and fibula facture—Lamb said no one feels any better or worse than the rest. The former Husky did note he received an outpouring of support from players across the league, enlightening him on what to expect from the rehab process.

“A lot of people reached out. I talked to Ray Allen, Lou Williams, Kemba [Walker], Marvin [Williams], just a lot of good friends around the league. They definitely gave me advice, told me how it was going to be—how rehab was going to be,” said Lamb. “It is going to be tough and stuff like that but it’s doable. I just leaned on them and they helped.”

With the support of his peers, teammates, and coaching staff, Lamb decided it was best for him to join the team in Florida even though he wouldn’t be playing. While the Disney World facilities are not as large as the Pacers’, having the training and coaching staff at his disposal was a key factor.

“We just wanted to make sure if I came it was the best time I could get rehab,” he said. “I thought this was the best opportunity to be around the team, some games, and be around basketball, but also get some rehab in the weight room and also on the court. On the court, I can run, cut a little bit, I’m able to do some dribble pull-ups, some finishes at the rim, definitely spot shots. It is just getting stronger every day.”

As he tries to slowly work his way back, he has taken on a new role for the Pacers.

“Pretty much all I can do is cheer my teammates on. If they have any questions for me—what I see from the outside looking in I can give them some advice from there,” Lamb said. “I feel like my role is just being a good teammate. I’m trying to rebound for them in practice or pass in practice if they’re short on rebounders or passers whatever it is.”

There were plenty of questions about when Lamb thought he might return to the court. But considering the severity of the injury and when it happened, it is conceivable that the 6-foot-5 forward might not be ready for the start of the 2020-21 season.

“I’m about four months post-surgery so I don’t even ask,” said Lamb. “I don’t want a target date, I just want to take it one day at a time so that I don’t really look forward to a date when I can play because I feel like it could take longer.”