Stevens: Langford ‘has torn ligaments in his wrist,’ might still play

Boston Celtics rookie wing Romeo Langford has torn ligaments in his wrist — but might still be able to play in the postseason.

“Romeo [Langford] has torn ligaments in his wrist.”

So came the word from Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens at Saturday afternoon’s post-practice presser

This is not the news anyone wanted to hear, but it’s the reality the often-injured rookie and his team face, yet again.

Injuries to ligaments in his thumb robbed him of much of his sole season at Indiana, causing his stock to drop out of the lottery and into Boston’s range.

Injuries — albeit less serious ones — robbed him of a fair chunk of his rookie season, and then as soon as he got healthy, a pandemic nearly robbed him of the rest of it.

Only to face this, again.

Mercifully for the first-year wing, there’s at least a chance he may be able to play through it, should he want to — though the decision ultimately rests with Langford.

“He will probably have to do something about that at some time,” offered Stevens, “but we’re still going through the process of determining next steps with him. I don’t know if that means that down the road. He’ll have to take time off if that means that it’ll have to have it … but they’re determining [if he does need time off], and we’re still in the process of determining how he feels. And whether or not he’ll be available or not.”

“Let’s say it’s questionable, right?” added the Celtics head coach.

“I feel for him. He is a hard working guy. He’s a tough guy. And I think he’s got a bright, bright future. And so, again, I hope that he’s able to play, but that’s going to be totally dependent on our doctors and dependent on his own pain. And so he’s going to have to test that and get used to it and see what it feels like. If not, then, we’ll, we’ll have him back when we have him back.”

Time after time, this promising prospect has taken two steps forward this season, only to see bad luck, his body, or both betray him, forcing a step back on his progression as a player.

Time after time, Langford has had to wait.

This time, he has really been putting things together on the defensive end, and showing he’d be able to contribute if his number was called.

And with All-Star wing Gordon Hayward headed out of the Disney ‘bubble’ for at least a handful of games to be at the birth of his next child, the Celtics might just have to find someone else to put on speed dial for when the former Butler guard takes his leave of absence.

Fingers crossed that he’s able to play if he wants to — and that Langford can put this litany of injuries behind him for good.

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