Are the OKC Thunder load managing Andre Roberson?

OKC Thunder wing Andre Roberson will not play in the preseason opener which may point to the team electing to load manage his minutes this season.

With the OKC Thunder set to tip-off their preseason this evening in a match versus the Dallas Mavericks one player fans are excited to see won’t be on the court.

Despite Head Coach, Billy Donovan repeatedly stating Andre Roberson looks good and has no limitations he wasn’t in the lineup for the Blue and White scrimmage. Nor will he play this evening as per Brady Trantham’s tweet and article in The Franchise.

This is disheartening news given Thunder Nation has waited these 20 months to welcome Roberson back to the hardwood. On the other hand, it is definitely wise to be cautious. But is this yet another indication ARob is still recovering from his lengthy absence due to the initial patellar tendon injury and subsequent setbacks?

Andre Roberson update, will NOT play tomorrow night in Tulsa when OKC takes on the Dallas Mavericks: https://t.co/pWDHbV95rg
— Brady Trantham (@BradyDoesSports) October 7, 2019

Donovan who previously indicated Roberson would play this past Sunday seemingly switched gears in his new comments. Up until the scrimmage the running line was ARob was fully ready to participate with no restrictions both from the player and the coach.

As per Trantham’s article, the most telling comments came from Donovan regarding the precautions the team will take:

"“I think for Andre there is going to be some ups and downs of getting accustomed to continually handling more and more load,” Donovan said. “I was actually encouraged that he practiced all four straight days and he came right back today after not playing in the scrimmage.”“Is it something that is going to happen the entire year? It would be hard for me to say, I can’t answer that.”"

This raises the question of whether the OKC Thunder and Billy Donovan will employ a load management program on the wing this season? It sure sounds as if that’s the direction the team is going to take.

In reflection, it’s also possible the team perhaps forced the timing of the 3 and D specialist’s return last season. That resulted in two separate setbacks and a fully missed season. Equally compelling is the results of this past playoff run when players who rushed back ended up with worse injuries.

The two most obvious examples being Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. In KD’s case, after missing nine games due to a stated calf injury he returned in Game 5 and ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Likewise, Klay Thompson missed Game 3 of the Finals nursing a sore hamstring. Thompson returned to play over 42 minutes in Games 4 and 5 then tore his ACL after playing 31 minutes in Game 6.

Whether the hamstring injury contributed to Thompson tearing his ACL isn’t known.