Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger injured a finger on his right hand today during a scrimmage against the USA Men’s Select team at John Jay College in New York City.
Granger seemed to jam his finger on the backboard when going up for the basketball and was in immediate pain.
“I think I jammed it trying to block a shot,” Granger told me after practice today. “It got caught on the rim. I’m not sure if its jammed or dislocated. I won’t know until I get it X-rayed.”
“As soon as I did it, I thought it was broken,” Granger continued. “It will be a little disappointing if I couldn’t play. If I can’t, we still have a good team.”
Granger is right handed and this is the first time he has ever had to deal with an injury to his shooting hand. The initial prognosis is that the finger was dislocated but Danny said he planned to meet with a doctor sometime today.
Over the past couple of seasons, we have seen Kobe Bryant play with severe finger injuries but nobody can expect Granger to mimic Bryant’s somewhat insane decision to play thought it, especially considering playing with it may put his NBA career in jeopardy shoot he endure any more damage to his finger.
“We’re always very considerate of their pro careers,” Team USA Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski said after practice today, their first of the New York camp. “We need make sure in any way we can that they don’t suffer any injury that will hurt them.”
Team USA Head Chairman Jerry Colangelo didn’t think Granger’s injury would be much of an issue. “I don’t think this is an injury that is a factor at all,” Colangelo said.
A full diagnosis should be given tomorrow, but the coaching staff does not feel this injury will keep him off the team. If he remains with Team USA, expect him to wear a splint that holds together his ring and middle fingers.
Should Granger’s injury be too serious for him to play with, his absence may mean Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon has an easier path to make the team. Though much smaller than Granger, Gordon is also one of the better shooters at the camp and would be an ample replacement for Danny should he have to drop out of the Team USA pool. Jeff Green may also see a roster spot open up for him as losing a six-foot-eight forward like Granger and not replacing him with another big forward would be a big risk considering the other losses Team USA has suffered this summer.
