Andre Roberson Undergoes Left Knee Scope

According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Andre Roberson underwent a successful scope of his left knee on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Roberson — who played in just 39 games in 2017-18 after rupturing his left patellar tendon on January 27 in Detroit — reportedly had the procedure done to alleviate swelling caused by his rehabilitation process. In a bit of good news, the Thunder organization is reporting he is on track to return at the beginning of next season.

Via a Thunder news release:

“The scope was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. The elective procedure was done to proactively relieve synovitis, which will enhance rehab activities and accelerate Roberson’s rehab protocol. He remains on pace to return for the start of the 2018-19 season.”

Dr. ElAttrache has been busy with Thunder patients lately, as he is the same doctor who performed Paul George’s left knee scope earlier this month. As the release states, the procedure was done proactively in hopes of giving Roberson the time necessary to complete his recovery in the offseason.

Roberson averaged 5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in his 39 appearances and was widely considered a Defensive Player of the Year candidate ahead of his season-ending injury. The Thunder posted a superb defensive rating of 97.6 with Roberson on the floor. In his absence, that number rose to 107.1 and capsized what momentum the team had begun to build.