Lakers' Darius Bazley Exits in Wheelchair After Injury vs. Celtics in Summer League

Los Angeles Lakers forward Darius Bazley exited the team's Summer League matchup against the Boston Celtics on Thursday in a wheelchair after taking a scary fall.

Bazley came off of a spin move and was attempting to go up to the rim when he went to the ground, clearly in pain from what appeared to be a lower body injury.

Bazley, a first-round draft pick in 2019, started his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder and had a decent first couple of seasons. In his second season, he averaged a career-high 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, establishing himself as a regular starter for the Thunder.

He put together another good year during the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 10.8 points and 6.3 boards per game, but suffered a season-ending leg injury at the end of the season.

He saw his minutes decrease significantly in his fourth season, and the Thunder traded him to the Phoenix Suns, where he played just seven games. From there, he bounced around between a few teams and spent some time in the G League.

After a brief stint in the Chinese Basketball Association last fall, he returned to the G League.

Bazley had a promising start to his NBA career, but has spent the last few seasons trying to stay on a roster consistently. He's done well for the Lakers in Summer League, putting up 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game coming into Thursday's contest. He had a 27-point, 13-rebound outing against the San Antonio Spurs.

He was off to a great start against the Celtics on Thursday, posting eight points, three boards and a pair of blocks before exiting with the injury.

While the extent of the injury is still unknown, having to miss any time would put a damper on Bazley's efforts to make the Lakers roster in the fall.