Lakers PG Dennis Schröder expected to miss 3-4 weeks after thumb surgery

Lakers guard Dennis Schröder underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right thumb on Monday and is expected to miss three-to-four weeks, head coach Darvin Ham told reporters, including ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link).

It’s an unfortunate start to the 2022/23 season for Schröder, who re-joined the Lakers on a one-year, minimum-salary deal as a free agent last month after a strong performance at EuroBasket, helping lead the German team to a bronze medal. However, he missed most of training camp and preseason and was only able to practice with the Lakers for the first time last Monday due to a visa issue.

The 29-year-old said he has “unfinished business” with the Lakers after reportedly being unwilling to discuss a lucrative extension in his first stint with the team a couple of seasons ago. The rumored four-year, $80MM extension was never signed, and Schröder instead signed a one-year, $5.9MM with Boston last summer.

Schröder hopes his second stint with the Lakers is longer than his first (one season).

“Of course, it would be great to sign a big deal and a longer-term deal, and that’s my goal still,” he said. “But the end of the day, we are here now and I’m going to do everything I can right now to just help my teammates win ballgames.”

With Schröder sidelined, players like Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley and Austin Reaves could see more playing time in his stead.