Heat's Josh Richardson reveals return timeline from shoulder surgery

Josh Richardson told reporters in Las Vegas that he might not be ready for the start of training camp as he rehabs from season-ending right shoulder surgery.

From the Miami Herald:

“I’ve never gone through anything this serious,” Richardson said while in Las Vegas this week to take in summer league and also continue his work with Heat coaches and trainers. “So it sucks to have to sit down for four months and not be able to do a whole lot. But it’s baby steps, trying to pace myself and not to get too ahead of myself or down. Because I can’t wake up one day and be able to do everything again. But I’m excited to be on the road back.” 

Richardson’s road back may not have him ready for the start of training camp in early October, though. He noted that training camp is “the optimistic goal” for his return to full five-on-five contact basketball work in hopes of being available for most of the preseason and the start of the regular season, but added there’s “no official timetable.” 

“I’ve had three days on the court now,” Richardson said of his basketball workouts since beginning to put up shots earlier this month. “I’m shooting like midranges. That’s the farthest I can shoot. I’m shooting little floaters here and there, but I can’t shoot threes yet. But it’s good for me because I can kind of break my shot down and work it back up from the bones.”

Richardson injured his right shoulder in a Feb. 11 game against the Boston Celtics and underwent surgery to repair his labrum on March 6. He only just started shooting a basketball on July 2 for the first time since the injury occurred.

Richardson exercised his $3 million player option to remain with the Heat this offseason. The front office has added competition at the position by selecting guard Pelle Larsson in the second round of June’s draft and signing veteran scorer Alec Burks to a minimum contract.