Good news for Thunder fans.
Hamidou Diallo is on schedule to return from the hyperextended right elbow that he suffered at the end of November in a game against the Lakers.
The initial timeframe was for Diallo to be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks. With that four-week mark coming up on Monday, Thunder head coach Billy Donovan told reporters, including Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, that Diallo in on-track without any setbacks.
“I think he’s feeling good,” Donovan said Saturday. “The biggest thing I think he’s trying to do is keep himself in shape. I think that first part was a little bit difficult for him to really be able to do much because his arm was in a sling. But now that he’s got it out and he’s got the ability to run and move and use his right hand some, and use his right arm some, that’s been a good thing.”
In a video that Lee posted on Twitter, Diallo has his elbow encased in a black compression sleeve, driving to the basket and putting up a short-range jumper with his right hand.
According to Billy Donovan, Hamidou Diallo is able to shoot with his right hand now, but the medical staff is charting how many shots he takes and from where. They’ll ramp up distance as he progresses. pic.twitter.com/HiHTlNQbWT
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) December 21, 2019
Lee also noted that the medical staff is monitoring the number of shots that Diallo is taking and from where.
Oklahoma City is back in action on Sunday when they host Paul George and the Clippers.