Lakers rookie Julius Randle has surgery, will miss rest of season

Los Angeles Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle will miss the rest of the season after fracturing the tibia in his right leg during his NBA debut Tuesday night.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle will miss the rest of the season after fracturing the tibia in his right leg during his NBA debut Tuesday night, the team announced Wednesday.  

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports that Randle is expected to make a full recovery after having surgery Wednesday morning. 

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The rookie sustained the injury while driving to the hoop against the Houston Rockets. His leg was placed in an aircast before he was taken to the hospital. 

Randle was the No. 7 pick in May's draft after one season at Kentucky. The 19-year-old averaged 15 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Wildcats.

On Thursday, the Lakers announced that 40-year-old point guard Steve Nash will miss the entire season due to recurring nerve damage in his back. Los Angeles is also currently without Nick Young, who had surgery on his thumb on Oct. 6 and was expected to miss eight weeks. 

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The Rockets won Tuesday's opener 108-90. The Lakers play the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday. 

- Molly Geary