The Lakers are currently in China for two exhibition games later this week against the Golden State Warriors as part of the NBA’s Global Games campaign. Kobe Bryant will not be playing as he is in the last stage of the recovery process from his Achilles surgery. Steve Nash plans to play in the two preseason games this week, but it depends on how his sore ankle is feeling.
Chris Kaman can add a new injury to the list, after injuring his finger while tobogganing (sledding) down the Great Wall of China on Saturday during a team visit to one of the Wonders of the World. At the Mutianyu portion of the Great Wall, a visitor can reach the top of the hill by a cable car or gondola. To get back down, a visitor can return the same way they came or they can toboggan down.
While trekking down, Kaman’s toboggan or sled (wheeled cart with a brake) collided with teammate Shawne William’s sled. As William’s sled was approaching his toboggan, Kaman instinctively reached out with his hand just before their two carts collided.
Kaman explained the incident (per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times):
“I didn’t hit the brake the whole time. Guys on the edge were yelling ‘Slow down’ and I just kept going,” Kaman said. “All of a sudden I catch up to this guy close to the bottom, so now I have to brake. Shawne Williams comes behind me without hitting his brake at all and just smashed right into me.”
“My hand smashed right between the two sleds. I didn’t feel the end of my finger for, like, an hour,” Kaman said, extending a bandaged, swollen middle finger. “It’s starting to throb a little right now.”
Kaman also added that William’s sled was going about 20-25 mph, while his sled was going about 3 mph when they collided. However, Kaman said this injury won’t cause him to sit out of their next preseason game on Tuesday in Bejing, saying that he will be fine.
Kaman has been impressive so far in the Lakers’ preseason, especially with his two-man game with Pau Gasol. Kaman has averaged 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in three exhibition games (sat out one game) with the Lakers.
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