BOSTON — James Young again will be sidelined due to injury for the third time in his brief Celtics tenure.
Tests revealed the rookie suffered some slight muscle damage in his right shoulder, Celtics coach Brad Stevens announced Friday. Young sustained the injury after colliding with Delaware 87ers forward Drew Gordon on Wednesday while playing for the Maine Red Claws.
“The tests came back, we talked about it being subluxed. There was a little — and I don’t want to misstate it — just a little bit of muscular damage that he can rehab, hopefully, without having to have surgery,” Stevens said before Boston’s matchup with the New York Knicks at TD Garden. “So, he’s going to be rehabbing over the next couple of weeks, then we’ll reevaluate. But it’s pretty typical of a subluxed shoulder.”
Young has made a minimal impact for the Celtics since being drafted No. 17 overall but has shined in the D-League, averaging 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in five appearances for the Red Claws.
Injuries have been an issue for the Kentucky product, however. Young missed summer league after he was involved in a pre-draft car accident and later was sidelined for six preseason games with a strained hamstring.
“It’s frustrating,” Young said Friday. “But I’ve just got to keep my head up, keep my confidence high and keep playing. Then, when I get back out there, keep playing until I have a chance to come back up here (at the NBA level) and play.”
The 19-year-old seemed optimistic about his latest ailment, saying he initially believed it was worse.
“The way I first felt it pop out, I knew it was going to be some time,” he said. “I thought it was going to be longer, but (the trainers) said only, like, two weeks. That’s a good thing.”
Young said he’ll be reevaluated after that period, then “see where it goes from there.”
“I know my time is going to come,” he added.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
