Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert has been out of the team’s lineup since undergoing surgery on Dec. 1 to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket is back to traveling with the team, but they’re being cautious with regards to his return.
Initial reports indicated that Shumpert, now 27 years of age, would be out of commission for six to eight weeks.
“They just want to be extra cautious and give me time,” Shumpert told Joe Vardon of cleveland.com. “It’s not something I’m looking to force the issue to get back. I’m not 21 no more.”
The Cavs are likely being cautious due to the fact that Shumpert had his knee surgically repaired in 2012 when he tore his ACL and lateral meniscus in the playoffs against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat while playing for the New York Knicks.
In his 13 appearances with the Cavs this season, Shumpert, who was on-court getting a few shots up prior to Tuesday night’s match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks, has turned in averages of 4.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists
“It sucks,” Shumpert said. “You get yourself into good shape, feeling good and then you have some problems with your knee. I tried to sit it out, wait it out, see if it would calm down. It did for a while and then it flared back up, so, it sucks but it’s part of this game now.”
As of today, the Cavs are limiting Shumpert in his on-court activity, as they should.
“It’s just good to see him up and on his feet, so that’s a good sign,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.
For now, the Cavs, winners in 18 of their last 19 games, will just have to keep their “next man up” mentality alive.
