It\u2019s always tricky to make a judgment on a player\u2019s health when you don\u2019t have access to his or her medical history or test results, but we all want to know what\u2019s going on and what could be the long term prognosis when the player goes down as Cam Thomas did last week with a hamstring issue. In Thomas case, it\u2019s particularly of note because of his 57 missed games last season, 53 were the result of three similar issues.<\/p>\n
The Brooklyn Nets announced Thursday that Thomas has left hamstring strain that would be evaluated in three to four weeks. Historically, the Nets don\u2019t provide much detail whenever a player goes down, merely citing the length of time before the player will be re-evaluated \u2026 which is more often than not a baseline timeframe and not an indication of how long someone will be in street clothes.<\/p>\n
Thomas in speaking with the media Thursday downplayed things despite his history. Indeed, he suggested that his previous injuries will help him deal with this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously frustrating being hurt with anything \u2014 whether it\u2019s an ankle, a foot, whatever the case may be. Nobody wants to be injured,\u201d said Thomas, 24. \u201cBut I\u2019m not really concerned about it. I\u2019ll be back in no time, so I\u2019m not really upset or concerned. It\u2019s just unfortunate. But good thing it happened earlier this year, so you can get on top of that and be back as soon as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
All that said, Brian Lewis contacted an experienced sports medicine specialist Dr. Kenton Fibel from Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles to get a better sense of things \u2026 within the constraints noted above. First things first, Dr. Fibel told The Post reported that based on the three-to-four week timeframe, Thomas is likely dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring injury and a recovery lasting around six weeks. Moreover, he said Thomas\u2019 past history could lead to future complications.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly people that have had prior hamstring injuries in that specific area will sometimes form more scar tissue than normal muscle tissue, so it can be a more of a weak spot to lead to further recurring injuries,\u201d Dr. Fibel told The Post. \u201cNot all the time. These can heal well, and just depends on the severity of the ones last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow this one, you would expect a Grade 1 injury on average to maybe be a week or two, vs. more of a Grade 2 injury can be more four to six weeks. So if they\u2019re recommending to reevaluate him in three to four weeks, they probably think it\u2019s more on the side of at least closer to a Grade 2 injury.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Fibel also laid out what he would expect Thomas rehab will look like.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s working with the team dieticians to look at any dietary things and adequate hydration, looking at his overall warm-up routine,\u201d Dr. Fibel told Lewis. \u201cAgain, the weakened muscle, if the injury happens in the exact same area of that tissue, may be a little bit weakened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if it\u2019s in a different area of the hamstring, then that\u2019s where all these things collectively you\u2019re looking at to see if there\u2019s any ways to alter the risk moving forward of these hamstring injuries.\u201d said Dr. Fibel, who is also medical director for the NHL\u2019s Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the fact it\u2019s earlier in the season and his injury history, I think it\u2019s appropriate to take a more conservative approach with him, as [a] star player for the team,\u201d Dr. Fibel added in talking about a full return. \u201cWith really any of these athletes that\u2019ve had prior injuries, our goal is to return the player at a high level, but without an increased risk of injury as best as we can. So I think it\u2019s prudent what they\u2019re seeming to be doing with this injury with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you feel that it has appropriately healed, then you begin a return-to-play progression. That may be another couple of weeks from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, it will be in Thomas best interest as well as the Nets to get back on the court. Thomas passed on a two-year, $30 million offer \u2014 with the second year a team option \u2014 last summer in favor of exercising his qualifying offer which will pay him $6 million but permit him to become an unrestricted free agent in July. To get maximum value, he\u2019ll have to prove not only his on-court skills but his health as well.<\/p>\n