Culver City Observer -

by Nick Hamilton

Special to the Culver City Observer

Lakers forward Jared Dudley spoke with the media on Tuesday before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and announced that he would not be seeking surgery for his torn MCL. Dudley hopes he can rehab his right knee in time for the playoffs in case called upon to play minutes. He said he injured his knee setting a screen and Sacramento Kings Cory Joseph bumped his knee. It appeared to be just a bruise at first, however once the MRI was taken during the All-Star break, Dudley was told he tore his MCL. "My value to this team is not playing.... my value is the locker room, the bus and the plane," Dudley said.

Dudley is truly the spark on the court and in the locker room this team needs all season long. He is as valuable to this team as anyone on the roster. The Lakers continue to be without Anthony Davis for the next three weeks or more, and are also without center Marc Gasol for an unknown time due to health and safety protocols. Alex Curuso according to head coach Frank Vogel is scheduled to return to the team on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets if he continues to pass concussion protocols.