Detroit — A wave of thoughts went through Marvin Bagley III’s mind Tuesday night when he inadvertently stepped on the foot of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, causing him to slip and go down with a knee injury.
Bagley had an MRI the following day that revealed a sprained MCL and bone bruise in his right knee, a relief for the Pistons big man because the injury appeared more devastating than the result yielded.
“When I did it, all types of stuff was running through my mind,” Bagley said after Sunday’s practice. “It was something I couldn’t have really prevented. It happened so fast. That feeling, I never felt it before. Getting up and not being able to put pressure on it, it was a little scary for me. God had his hands on me; had His arms around me, so that’s all I can ask for.”
Bagley had to be helped off the court by his teammates, but he joined the team for the preseason finale against the Grizzlies, able to walk on his own power. He said he’s still feeling some pain, but he feels better with each day.
“It just happened a few days ago so you’re still gonna have stiffness,” Bagley said. “Still gonna have little achy pains and things of that nature, so I’m just working through it every day. It feels better than it did yesterday and that’s how I approach every day, just keep making sure I get better. I just gotta stay locked in in the weight room and on the court and get back as soon as I can.”
The Pistons will be without Bagley for the next three to four weeks while he rests and rehabilitates his knee back to full strength. The team’s training staff has him doing stimulation therapy, which helps increase range of motion and endurance, so when he’s ready to get back on the court, his knee will be used to the movements.
The end of Bagley’s rehab timeline lines up with the Pistons’ short road trip to Boston and New York from Nov. 9-11. However, he’s not looking to rush back just to get back on the floor. When he does return from injury, he wants to be in a position to play his game and not be limited by the injury.
“Obviously, I want to play,” Bagley said. “I hate watching practices and watching games. I want to be out there with the guys and doing it with them. It’s tough, but at the same time, it’s a long season. We ain’t even started playing the regular season yet. At the same time, it’s about making sure I get my knee to a point where I’m comfortable cutting, comfortable jumping, playing how I normally play and feeling good without even thinking about it. Once I’m at that point, then I’ll be ready to play and get back out there with the guys. But until then, it’s about staying positive, being a good teammate, even when I’m out.”
Injuries have been a part of Bagley’s NBA career, dating back to his days with the Sacramento Kings. Last season, Bagley injured his left ankle shortly after the Pistons acquired him in February. Asked if his experience with injuries helps him deal with his latest, Bagley said he can only focus on the present and how he responds.
“It’s unfortunate, but things like that, I can’t stop those things from happening,” Bagley said. “Stepping on a foot, those things just happen. It’s about controlling what I can control. That was out of my control and what I can control is how I get back and how I strengthen everything up to get back on the court.
“That’s my mindset. I don’t think about the past. I don’t think about injuries in the past, it’s a part of it and now it’s about how you respond and how you get back up and attack each day.”
Pistons waive Stanley Umude and Devontae Cacok
The Pistons announced two roster cuts on Sunday, one day before Monday’s deadline to trim the roster down to 15 guaranteed contracts.
Stanley Umude and Devontae Cacok, both of whom were on Exhibit 10 deals, were waived by the Pistons. The team released guard Jules Bernard on Friday.
Umude, a 6-foot-6 guard, averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Pistons through three preseason games.
Cacok, who was at practice last week, spent last season on a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. As a senior in college, Cacok averaged 15.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
mcurtis@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @MikeACurtis2