Nick Young tears thumb ligament, out 6-to-8 weeks, according to report

The Los Angeles Lakers haven't played a minute of preseason basketball and have already lost a key player in their season. Nick Young is expected to miss approximately eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his right thumb, reports the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan. Young suffered the injury while trying to steal the ball from Kobe Bryant during a scrimmage, and what was hoped to be a slight sprain will now sideline the Lakers' sixth man to start the season.

The Lakers have officially announced the injury, but will wait until Young undergoes surgery on Monday before giving their official estimate on his return date. An eight-week timeline pushes Young out until late November at the earliest, making his return probably during a four-game homestand for the Lakers to end the month.

This is a big blow to the Lakers, who needed Young's scoring punch off the bench to start the season off on the right foot. Xavier Henry is still out of action during training camp, and the Lakers are thin at shooting guard without Young to spell Kobe. We'll know more once the surgery goes through, but a six-to-eight week timeline should be the expectation when the Lakers make their announcement.