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This morning, Los Angeles Lakers fans received some rare good news on the injury front, with Lakers.com reporter Mike Trudell tweeted that Julius Randle is beginning to make process on rehabilitating his fractured tibia:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Julius Randle has started the initial stages of physical therapy coming back from his broken leg. He's walking and moving w/out crutches.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/545321281206247424">December 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Randle being off of crutches is great news! Unfortunately, for those hoping for an early return, Trudell also gave this reminder:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Yes, Randle was officially declared out for the season. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/AlecStretch">@AlecStretch</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter">@LakersReporter</a> is he still done for the year Mike?</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/545322996018073600">December 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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That is obviously less exciting, but nothing that we did not already know. At least Randle seems to be keeping the right attitude regarding the long, arduous process to get back on the court, according to Joey Ramirez of Lakers.com
"The doctor said, ‘Go at your own pace,'" Randle said. "My pace was to get rid of them immediately.... There are things that I know I need to work on, and (I'm) just watching how guys take care of their body throughout the course of a season, stuff like that... It's little things that I know will help me next year for sure."
Here is hoping that this type of glass half-full take on the situation, coupled with his attentiveness to learning the mental side of the game will help Julius return next year as the same player that had fans salivating coming into the 2014-15 season.