Kings’ Marvin Bagley III resumes backyard basketball activity during NBA shutdown
Kings coach Luke Walton can report Marvin Bagley III is in good spirits and adhering to stay-at-home orders at his family compound, but Walton doesn’t know where Bagley is in terms of his injury rehabilitation.
“A lot of my talks with Marvin are more along the lines of how he’s doing, how he’s feeling mentally, emotionally,” Walton said. “I leave the specific details of what he’s doing rehab-wise to the medical staff, but he’s doing a great job of social distancing and staying safe and staying with his family.”
The NBA suspended its season due to the coronavirus crisis more than six weeks ago, but Walton still can’t say whether Bagley would be cleared to return from a foot injury if play resumes. Walton said Bagley would first have to undergo testing and progress from 3-on-3 to 5-on-5 competition in practice.
There is evidence Bagley has been playing 2-on-2 at home. Performing in front of team personnel is not possible because team facilities have been closed since March 17, but coaches, trainers and medical staff are maintaining communication with players. Walton said those conversations with Bagley have been encouraging.
“Marvin is doing great,” Walton said. “He feels much better. Players are in constant contact with the trainers and there is a circle of communication happening. … The trainers are reaching out to the players, finding out what they need, getting equipment that they need. The strength coaches are getting workouts and doing the same thing (in terms) of getting equipment to the players. In talking to Marvin, he feels much better and he’s been asking for film clips, (so) we’ve been sending him videos to study.”
Bagley, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, missed 22 games with a broken thumb early in the season and 25 of the last 29 games with a left midfoot sprain. Bagley averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, but he appeared in only 13 games while other top picks in his class, Luka Doncic and Trae Young, emerged as All-Stars. The Kings still believe Bagley has that kind of potential, but he has been slowed by injuries over his first two seasons.
The last official update on Bagley’s foot came from the team Feb. 20. The Kings said Bagley had incorporated stationary shooting and partial weight-bearing conditioning activities into his regimen under the supervision of team physicians and in coordination with Dr. Martin O’Malley, a foot specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The team said it would update Bagley’s status again three weeks later, but the NBA postponed the season to slow the spread of COVID-19 a day before Bagley was expected to be reevaluated.
While Bagley has offered few clues via social media, his father’s Instagram profile provides a glimpse into activities at the family’s home in Elk Grove, which features a Kings-colored basketball court in the backyard.
Some videos show Bagley lifting weights, jumping rope and running sprints. A video dated March 19 shows Bagley throwing down a windmill dunk.
In another video posted last week, he is seen playing two-on-two with his father and brothers. In a brief clip, Bagley was loosely guarded by 18-year-old brother Marcus, a top high school prospect who has signed with Arizona State, but their dad was all over little brother Martray with denial defense, leading to some playful shoving and a humorous exchange.
“He keeps fouling me,” Martray complained.
“Call your momma, punk,” his father replied.
Walton said those backyard pickup games might benefit Bagley until stay-at-home orders are lifted.
“For him, he’s got some brothers, so he can get out in the backyard and play a little bit more than just (getting) shots up,” Walton said. “He said he’s in a really good place and his body is feeling good, and he’s looking forward to being able to play ball again.”
